May leads six honored 49ers

Cal State Long Beach setter Misty May was announced as Big West Conference Player of the Year, and was joined by teammates Jessica Alvarado, Nique Crump and Jenn Snyder as first team all-conference selections.

When the 1996 All-Big West team was announced Tuesday, Sophomore Benishe Dillard and senior Michelle Jones made the second team, making the 49ers (along with Pacific) the most represented school. Each squad had six players named.

This is the seventh player of the year award for CSULB since the 49ers joined the Big West in 1985.

May earned her second consecutive top honor after leading CSULB to a 32-2 regular-season record and a ranking that has been as high as No. 3 in the nation. The sophomore ranked third in Big West assists with 11.85 per game and seventh in hitting percentage with a .315 mark.

The 5 foot, 9 inch Newport Beach resident also averaged 2.75, 1.91 kills, and .68 blocks per game.

The All-Conference team also includes Freshman of the Year Roberta Gehlke of UC Santa Barbara. This is the second time in Big West history that a UCSB player has taken the Freshman of the Year title.

The All-Conference coach honor was given to Pacific's John Dunning. This is the second time Dunning has been named to the team. He also received the award in 1986, when his Tigers won the NCAA title.