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The University of Utah Athletics
Two Ute Volleyball Players Named to All-MWC Team
11/24/2009 12:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 24, 2009
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Junior opposite hitter Karolina Bartkowiak and senior middle blocker Chelsey Sandberg of the University of Utah volleyball team were selected to the All-Mountain West Conference Team, as selected by the league's nine coaches, the conference office announced Tuesday.
"I'm always happy for players to get recognized for the hard work they put into the team," Launiere said. "Karolina and Chelsey were leaders and go-to players all season for our team and deserve this award."
Bartkowiak, a Preseason All-MWC selection and Aurora, Ill., native, earned her second straight all-conference selection and currently ranks sixth in the MWC's overall statistics with 3.03 kills and 3.56 points per set. In the 16 conference matches this season, Bartkowiak is fifth in the conference-only statistics with 3.17 kills and 3.70 points per set.
Bartkowiak served as a team tri-captain this season, earning 2009 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII accolades and MWC Player of the Week honors three times. Bartkowiak earned the MWC Player of the Week award on Aug. 31, Sept. 28 and Oct. 12. She hit a career-high 22 kills and had 17 digs against BYU and had a career-high 23 digs against TCU on Oct. 8.
Bartkowiak posted 11 double-doubles this season, the first of career, and has led Utah in kills 15 times, blocks three times and digs once.
"Karolina established herself as one of the top players in the MWC," Launiere said. "She was always the focus of our opponents' game plans and still found ways to consistently lead us offensively."
Sandberg earned her first career all-conference selection after finishing fourth in the MWC with 0.30 service aces per set and ranking seventh in the league with a .303 hitting percentage. She stepped up to a leadership role during spring practice and served as one of the team's tri-captains in 2009.
Sandberg has seven double-digit-kill performances this season and hit a career-high 14 kills in consecutive home matches against Weber State (Oct. 6) and TCU (Oct. 8). She also reached double figures in kills against Washington State (Sept. 5), Air Force (Sept. 17), BYU (Oct. 23), San Diego State (Nov. 19) and Air Force (Nov. 21).
The West Jordan, Utah native served a career-high six aces against Cal Poly on Sept. 1 and had a season-high .778 hitting percentage against Arizona State on Aug. 28.
Sandberg is eighth in school history with 322 block assists and is 30 away from Whitney Webb (2004-07), who ranks seventh in Utah history with 352 in her career. Sandberg is also ninth in the Utah record book with 342 total blocks.
"Chelsey has always been a great team player," Launiere said. "This year, she really stepped up as a top player for us and role model for the younger players."
Utah concludes its regular season with a non-conference match Saturday at Long Beach State in the Mizuno Thanksgiving Classic. First serve from Walter Pyramid is set for 7:30 p.m. PT with live audio found at http://secure.stretchinternet.com/live.php?user=lbsu&id=56793.
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