Arizona Western Volleyball places four on All-Region teams

YUMA, Ariz. – Four members of the Arizona Western Matadors Volleyball team were named All-Region DI after leading the Matadors to a second straight Rocky Mountain District Final this season.

The Matadors placed a pair of players on the All-Region DI First Team as Ma'o Lauhingoa and Rana Yamada were named first-team honorees and Natalia Valencia-Gamboa and Larrynn Joseph-Rodrigues earned second-team honors.

Sophomore Ma'o Lauhingoa was an All-Region DI First Team member after finishing the season eighth in the ACCAC in hitting percentage at .293. The outside hitter recorded 140 kills in 99 sets this season and set a season-high with 11 kills in the Region I final against Eastern Arizona on November 6.

Libero Rana Yamada was also named All-Region DI First Team honoree after being named the Region I Libero of the Year. Yamada finished the season with 300 digs, averaging 3.30 digs per set, and had 26 service aces this season. The sophomore from Japan had a season-high 22 digs in a 3-2 win over Eastern Arizona on October 5.

Freshman Natalia Valencia-Gamboa earned second-team recognition, ending the season with 218 kills, averaging 2.69 kills per set and putting together a .195 hitting percentage. The outside hitter had a season-high 16 kills against Central Arizona back on October 12.

Larrynn Joseph-Rodrigues was also named an All-Region DI Second Team member after tallying 262 kills to lead the team. Averaging 2.65 kills per set and recording 125 digs. Joseph-Rodrigues set a season-high 20 kills at Central Arizona back on October 12.