FORT COLLINS — To most of the Mountain West, the easy part is deciding who are the two best volleyball players.
Only three have been nominated, and New Mexico coach Jeff Nelson couldn’t even remember the third. He naturally knew about his candidate, opposite hitter Chantale Riddle, as well as Colorado State setter Deedra Foss.
“I told Tom the other week, because we both know who the two are, it’s almost a career award because the career’s been so outstanding,” Nelson said. “It’s just an interesting dynamic.”
It really is, for many reasons.
Start with the fact an opposite hitter has never won the award since the Mountain West was established in 1999. In that time, only one setter — CSU’s Melissa Courtney in 2003 (co-player) and 2004 — has won the award. In fact, only 17 opposite hitters have been named all conference, none before the 2003 season.
How coaches will go about comparing the two will be tough. CSU coach Tom Hilbert said he’s not sure what stat is used to attach to a setter’s worth, other than assists. Foss currently is averaging 11.75 per set, ranking third nationally. But it also comes down to hitting percentage, since it is the setter’s job to put her team in the best spot, and the Rams lead the league at .283, which ranks ninth nationally.
Then there’s Riddle, who leads the conference in points per set (4.59), is second in kills (3.81 per) and sits eighth in blocking (1.24). Nelson adds the fact she’s led the conference in points three straight years, is second all time in kills and he addresses her story behind the scenes. She was not a club player, so she didn’t come to college with an advanced resume. She’s also remained a consistent force despite dealing with the news her mother was diagnosed with brain cancer during the year.
“I think her impact on the conference is pretty huge,” Nelson said. “I think hands down she’s the player who is most prepared for in the conference by other teams.”
Even Foss, who wants no part of the debate, is confused on how one would compare and contrast players at positions with such different values attached.
“As a hitter, you’re getting the points, your killing the balls and doing a lot of stuff,” said Foss, the MW’s reigning setter of the year. “As the setter, you’re the one giving the ball to the hitter. It’s just two very different positions, and Chantale is a great player, so, I don’t know.”
Hilbert does. For him, Foss’ career arc is just as impressive, as she has guided the Rams to four consecutive conference titles, and lost to many, she is a strong blocker and defender for his team.
“I think that I’m going to have to say my player should be player of the year,” he said. “I think Chantale has a great history in this conference and has been a great player and will break a lot of conference records, but Deedra’s success should trump it. But they’re both great players.”
To that end, Nelson proposed a middle ground, a conclusion the conference has only come to three times in its history, and that is co-players of the year. While the award is for the season’s top player (and conference-only stats are used), he thinks — and Hilbert agrees — their career numbers can’t be discarded.
“I’m going to be honest with you. I think this is one of those years where the coaches would be smart and wise to have co-players of the year, because these kids are totally different,” Nelson said. “One has led her team to a great place, and does that by quarterbacking it. The other one is definitely the most feared player in the conference. I think comparing them is almost unconscionable. I think they both are deserving of the award for the careers they’ve had at their schools, too. Chantale for the unbelievable numbers and Deedra for the great job she’s done running their show.”
Neither Hilbert nor Nelson knows if other coaches will see it that way, or even how they will vote. They do agree it will be interesting.
So does Wyoming coach Chad Callihan, whose Cowgirls come to Moby Arena on Wednesday night to close out the regular season (7 p.m.). He doesn’t believe coaches go into a vote thinking about splitting an award, but he does agree they’ll have to do their homework in making their decision.
“I guess at the end of the day, we just look at the impact of their team,” Callihan said. “Both are great players, and both are probably worthy of that award. That’s a good question. For me personally, it’s just how we feel that particular player had an impact for their particular team that year. I think the voting will be interesting. Both of them are very good players, and they’ve both done a lot for their teams.”
Mike Brohard: 970-635-3633, mbrohard@reporter-herald.com and twitter.com/mbrohard
