Rebecca Saraceno, the 2009 Big West Player of the Year, and Dana Vargas, a First Team All-Big West choice, were both selected to the American Volleyball Coaches Association West Region First Team on Wednesday.
The duo, who led UCSB to a 22-8 overall record and its first NCAA Tournament appearance in three seasons, were two of three Big West players honored on the West Region’s First Team. It is the first time a Gaucho has been named to an All-Region team since Olivia Waldowski in 2006.
Saraceno and Vargas are the first pair of UCSB teammates to be named to the All-Region team since Danielle Bauer and Brooke Niles in 2002.
The West Region is made up of schools from the Big West, Mountain West, Big Sky and Western Athletic conferences.
“This is the culmination of a tremendous season by both of these players,” UCSB head coach Kathy Gregory said. “These players were so deserving and they elevated their game to another level.
“With only 14 players chosen out of 36 schools, that shows how valuable they were to secure one of those spots.”
This is the seventh award this season for Saraceno, who also garnered a National Player of the Week honor from the AVCA and four Big West Player of the Week awards. The Redondo Beach, Calif. native ranks in the top-20 in the nation in kills and moved into eighth place all-time in UCSB history in kills this season. Saraceno, who averaged nearly 5.0 points per set this season, also ranks in the school’s top-10 in kill attempts and service aces.
Vargas averaged nearly 11 assists per set this season, which was second in the Big West and is currently fourth all-time in school history in assists. The junior from Seal Beach, Calif. had a breakout season, earning her first All-Big West First Team award.
