November 22, 2011

Women's Student-Athlete of the Week - Casey Hinger, Women's Volleyball

Freshman Casey Hinger capped off a phenomenal rookie season by being named the Big West Conference Women's Volleyball Freshman of the Year, the league office announced.

Hinger, a freshman from Fullerton, Calif., is the second Matador player to earn Big West Freshman of the Year accolades after Angela Hupp was honored in 2006. This season, Hinger ranks second on the team with 249 kills while hitting .288 which is eighth-best among conference hitters. She is also among the top-five blockers in the Big West averaging a team-high 1.14 blocks per set.

"I'm just so grateful to my team and my coaches," said Hinger. "We've had such a successful season and I'm just so thankful to be a part of it. Congratulations to Jeff Stork for being named Coach of the Year, he definitely deserves it."

With Hinger, sophomore opposite Natalie Allen, sophomore setter Sydney Gedryn and sophomore outside hitter Mahina Haina all earning All-Big West accolades, Northridge had its most players recognized since 2006. Allen, Gedryn and Hinger all were named to the first team while Haina was received honorable mention. It marked the first time in Cal State Northridge's Division I era (1990-present) that the Matadors had three players named to their conference's First Team.

The Matadors, who were picked to finish eighth in the Big West Coaches Preseason Poll in August, finished alone in third-place with a 9-7 conference record, the most Big West wins for a Northridge team since winning 11 in 2004. The Matadors are 15-13 overall heading into Friday's regular season finale against Air Force.

Click Here for the Men's Student-Athlete of the Week, Stephan Hicks of Basketball.

2011 Women's Student-Athletes of the Week: