BMCC's Williams Earns Top Volleyball Honor

Blue Mountain Community College freshman volleyball player Kristin Williams was named the Northwest Athletic Conference’s (NWAC) Baden Player of the Year.

Williams, a middle blocker from Pendleton, is the second BMCC player in a row to receive the volleyball Player of the Year honor – Sierra Linke was the 2014 Player of the Year.

The Baden Player of the Year honor caps a stellar year for Williams, who was also named the NWAC Championship Volleyball Tournament Most Valuable Player following BMCC’s fourth straight NWAC championship win (and fifth overall) on Nov. 22 in Tacoma, Wash. She was named to the NWAC’s 1st Team All-Region (East Region) and the NWAC Tournament 1st Team.

“Kristin never played the middle blocker position before this season,” said head volleyball coach Dave Baty. “She embraced its challenges and continues to learn and improve – watch out in 2016!”

Williams notched 185 kills in 99 sets through the course of the season (league and non-league matches), with a 0.327 attack percentage and a 0.95% block per set. She achieved 24 solo blocks and 63 block assists as well.

“Kristin is very deserving of this prestigious honor,” said BMCC Athletic Director Brett Bryan. “It’s the icing on the cake for a tremendous volleyball season for the Timberwolves.”

Williams is the third female BMCC student-athlete to be named a Baden Player of the Year since 2014. Linke received the honor last fall, followed by basketball standout Mar’Shay Moore earlier in 2015. Crystal Schmidt and Rebecca Haight have also received the volleyball Player of the Year honor for BMCC in 2013 and 2010, respectively.