Four Broncos Recognized in WCC Volleyball Awards

WCC RELEASE

SAN BRUNO, Calif. — Santa Clara volleyball had four players honored by the West Coast Conference on Monday. Senior Taylor Odom highlighted the accolades with a First Team All-WCC selection after leading the NCAA with an SCU single-season record 181 total blocks. 

Odom's all-conference recognition is the first of her career and she set career-high marks in nearly every statistical category in 2019. Freshman Julia Sangiacomo was named Second Team All-WCC and landed a spot on WCC All-Freshman Team. Redshirt junior Allison Kantor and sophomore Michelle Shaffer took home Honorable Mention recognition.

Odom totaled 225 kills and led the Broncos with a .324 hitting percentage while hitting .400 or better 12 times. The middle blocker helped the Bronco defense lead the WCC with 305.5 total blocks (15th NCAA) and 2.66 blocks/set (20th NCAA), while holding opponents to a .166 hitting percentage (2nd WCC, 30th NCAA). Her block average of 1.63/set ranks third in the NCAA this season, second all-time for Santa Clara and is a program record in the 25-point format.

Sangiacomo ranked fourth in the conference with 372 kills (3.38/set) and third with 445 total points, all of which were tops among WCC freshmen and a Bronco-best this season. The outside hitter posted double-digit kills in 22 of 31 matches and had five double-doubles.

Kantor finished second on the Broncos with 302 kills (2.9/set), 347 points (3.3/set) and nine double-doubles. The outside hitter was third on the team with 279 digs (2.68/set). She had double-digit kills in 19 of 30 contests en route to her second all-conference accolade (2017 All-Freshman team).

Shaffer followed up her 2018 All-Freshman Team campaign by leading the WCC and ranking 25^th in the country with 49 aces (.43/set, 36^th NCAA). She set and hit as a right side prior to a season-ending injury to Liliana Light, and became a full-time setter for the last eight matches of the season. Shaffer is the first Bronco since 2003 and second in program history to record a triple-double and a 20-20 match in the same season (Becky Potter), and led the Broncos with 12 double-doubles for the year.

Santa Clara accepted a bid to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship, and faces Long Beach State on the road in Wednesday's opening-round action.