Hamson Earns All-America Honorable Mention

PROVO, Utah—Sophomore opposite hitter Jennifer Hamson received AVCA Division I Honorable Mention All-America honors Wednesday after leading the BYU women’s volleyball team to a 21-9 season in 2011.

“This is a wonderful honor for Jen and the hard work she put into this season,” BYU head coach Shawn Olmstead said. “Her level of play and her confidence have risen a ton. With the support of the team, we look forward to better things to come next season. We look at this as a team award for the program and we’re happy to see Jen highlighted this way.”

Hamson, a Lindon, Utah, native, led the Cougars and the West Coast Conference in kills with 3.94 per set and ranked in the NCAA’s top 25 for points per set, coming in at No. 22 with 4.88. Hamson started all 30 matches for BYU and recorded the team’s season high of 21 kills in a match against Loyola Marymount. Hamson ended the season with 422 kills, along with 255 digs (2.38 per set), 110 blocks (1.08 per set) and 39 service aces (.36 per set).

This season, Hamson has also received All-Pacific Region accolades, WCC Player of the Week and Player of the Month awards and All-WCC First Team honors. For excellence in the classroom, Hamson was named to the Academic All-WCC team.

In addition to postseason awards, she was named to all-tournament teams for the BYU Nike Invitational, the Utah Invitational and the Varney’s Invitational, garnering tournament MVP at the Varney’s Invitational.

Hamson will stay active in the offseason as a member of the BYU women’s basketball team, which is currently 9-2 on the season.