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Mia Ortiz and Deborah Bekowies - MenloOaksSports.com
Volleyball - Wed, Nov 11, 2009
ATHERTON, Calif. - Menlo College middle blocker Deborah Bekowies was named California Pacific Conference Player of the Year for the second consecutive season when the all-conference team was announced Wednesday evening. Bekowies was joined as a First Team All-Cal Pac selection by fellow seniors Sarah Poole and Stephanie Williamson, each of whom earned the same honors a year ago.

Junior libero Mia Ortiz was named Second Team All-Cal Pac while senior outside hitters Kelsey Bailey and Katie Pendley each earned Honorable Mention All-Cal Pac.


Menlo enjoyed its second consecutive undefeated Cal Pac campaign when it wrapped up its regular season last week with a pair of victories to move to 12-0 and earn the top seed in the Cal Pac Tournament, which gives the Oaks a bye into the championship game it hosts at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Menlo has won 26 consecutive Cal Pac matches dating through last season and 10 straight matches overall this season. The winner of Saturday's conference title match earns an automatic berth in the 36-team NAIA National Championship.


The trio of Bekowies, Poole and Williamson has been dominant for the Oaks each of the past two seasons with each player stamping their name on the program record book. Bekowies is the school's career leader in kills, assisted blocks and total blocks while also ranking in the top three in hitting percentage and solo blocks; Poole is in the top five in kills, as well as all three blocks categories; Williamson became the Oaks career leader in assists last week while ranking seventh in service aces. In addition to their career success, the trio also litters the Oaks single-season record lists.

Ortiz has had a career year as a junior, taking up a prominent role in the Menlo starting lineup. Ortiz leads the Oaks in digs and service aces, and is within striking distance of the top 10 in each categories single-season record list. Bailey has done a little bit of everything, totaling 136 kills and 247 digs in covering the entire court while Pendley is third on the team with 187 kills.

Bekowies has now been selected First Team All-Cal Pac in each of her four seasons as an Oak while Poole made the jump from a solid contributor as a freshman to a star as an upperclassman, leading the Cal Pac in blocks this season. Williamson, Bailey and Pendley have each excelled since joining the team as junior college transfers. Ortiz still has one year left before her Menlo career comes to a close.