FORT COLLINS — Being a MVP is nothing new to Sam Peters.
The Colorado State senior has worn that title before, but on Tuesday, the Rams middle blocker took it to a much higher level.
After being the Rams’ “Bomb Squad” (scout team) MVP the past two seasons, the Cherry Creek product who transferred in from Santa Clara was named the Mountain West player of the year.
After backing up a pair of all-conference middles the past two years, Peters had once chance to shine and she made it count.
“I mean, I knew I wanted to finish strong with only one year, but you really couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Peters, who led a contingent of five Rams to earn honors.
In addition to her award, Deedra Foss was named setter of the year and Tom Hilbert was named the coach of the year for the ninth time in the 15-year history of the conference.
Junior middle Kelsey Snider and sophomore opposite hitter Dri Culbert were also named to the all-conference team.
Hilbert said he’s been asked about leadership on his 28-1 team that faces Cal State Northridge in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, and he said Peters is a prime example.
“I would say that any player who sits on the bench for three years, then in her fourth year is the Mountain West player of the year, that’s leadership just in doing that,” he said. “It’s like you prepared for you opportunity and you took full advantage of it. It’s an amazing thing. I literally go back and go, ‘what should I have done last year probably to get her on the court more.’ But maybe it wasn’t her time. Maybe this was just her time.”
Voting is done by the conference coaches, based on conference-only matches. Peters’ selection makes it five straight player of the year awards for the Rams, following Dana Cranston, Katelyn Steffan and Danielle Minch twice. In all, seven Rams have won the award 10 times.
Peters stepped in to replace a pair of all-conference performers before her, and she did it without pause. She hit .404 to lead the conference, finishing second in blocks at 1.43 per set. She is one of only two NCAA players with that combo this season. Those were the two areas she really wanted to improve her game, and she did.
“I wanted to be greedy; I wanted both,” she said. “Honestly, I was more surprised with the hitting. I thought I was going to be better with blocking, and I had ups and downs as far as blocking, but to see my numbers consistent with the hitting was really nice.”
She said she really started to feel a flow early in the season, and she credited Foss for making the transition easier. It doesn’t hurt when you have the best setter in the conference on your side, but Foss said Peters really deserved the accolades she received.
“I think that was awesome,” Foss said. “Sam’s an awesome player, and I love playing with her. She’s one of those players who is really consistent all year round. She deserved that award, for sure.”
For Foss, it is her second all-conference nod, but the first time to be named the top setter. Her freshman year, she was named the newcomer of the year. She led the Mountain West in assists at 11.71 per set, ranking eighth with .026 aces per set.
Snider and Culbert each earned their first bids.
Snider finished sixth in hitting (.354), and Culbert was honored for her all-around game. She had the best hitting percentage of all of the Rams’ outsides and led all opposites in the conference, posting a .277 and also finished in the top 20 of the league for digs at 2.70 per set.
Colorado State went from a team that was supposed to be rebuilding to a dominant force in the MW. Hilbert said it was because his players improved, and that’s why he won his award.
For instance, the preseason player of the year — San Diego State setter Johnna Fouch — wasn’t on the postseason team. And Peters was nowhere near making the preseason team. New Mexico matched Colorado State with four selections. Wyoming and Fresno State had two each, with UNLV, San Jose State, Utah State and San Diego State one a piece.
Freshman of the year honors went to Julia Warren of the Lobos; Becky Stewart of the Cowgirls was the libero of the year. Holly Franks of the Bulldogs was the newcomer of the year.
Mike Brohard can be reached at 635-3633, mbrohard@reporter-herald.com and @mbrohard
2013 All-Mountain West Women’s Volleyball Team
Player, Yr., Pos., School
Adrianna Culbert, so.., OPP, CSU
Samantha Peters, sr., MB, CSU
Kelsey Snider, jr., MB, CSU
Deedra Foss, jr. S, CSU
Marissa Brand, sr., OH, FSU
Korrin Wild, sr., OH, FSU
Hannah Johnson, so., S, UNM
Miquella Lovato, sr., L, UNM
Chantale Riddle, jr., OPP, UNM
Julia Warren, fr., OH, UNM
Raegan Shelton, sr., OH, SDSU
Hanah Blume, sr., OH, SJSU
Sekola Falemaka, sr., OH, UNLV
Elle Brainard, so., OPP, USU
Erin Kirby, jr., MB, UW
Becky Stewart, sr., L, UW
Player of the year — Peters, Colorado State
Setter of the year — Foss, Colorado State
Coach of the year — Tom Hilbert, Colorado State
Libero of the year — Stewart, Wyoming
Freshman of the year — Warren, New Mexico
Newcomer of the year — Holly Franks, Fresno State
