PORTLAND, Ore. – Guard Jessica Wilkerson of Northwest University and forward Jacki Speer of Southern Oregon University, who ranked 1-2 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference in scoring this season, have been voted Co-Players of the Year by the league’s head coaches, the conference office announced.
It is the first honor for Wilkerson and the second for Speer, who was named the CCC’s Player of the Year following the 2008-09 campaign.
Other major honors went to College of Idaho’s Nicole Gall and Warner Pacific’s Kelsey Mattsen, who shared the CCC’s Defensive Player of the Year award; Evergreen’s Latrina Woods, who was cited as the CCC’s Newcomer of the Year; and C of I’s Reagan Rossi, who was voted Coach of the Year.
In 17 regular season CCC games, Wilkerson averaged a league-leading 19.4 points per game and helped spark a turnaround for the Eagles, who finished tied for second in the CCC (13-5) after finishing tied for seventh (7-13) a year ago.
Wilkerson, a senior from Issaquah, Wash., also averaged 5.8 rebounds and was among the league leaders in 3-point field goals made, free throw percentage, and steals.
Speer, a 6-1 senior from Centralia, Wash., led the CCC in rebounding and ranked second in the conference in scoring during conference play. Nationally, Speer currently ranks second in the NAIA in rebounding (13.8 rpg) and fifth in scoring (20.7 ppg).
Gall, a 5-10 junior, shared Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading the CCC in steals and ranking among the league’s top 10 in blocked shots. Warner Pacific’s Mattsen, one of the CCC’s top rebounders, was credited for her all-around defensive ability while taking on the opponent’s top player each night. Both Gall and Mattsen were first team All-CCC selections.
Woods, a 5-8 junior guard from Evergreen, earned Newcomer of the Year recognition after a season which saw her average 13.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. The transfer from La Sierra University, a first team All-CCC selection, also had 45 steals and 58 assists in conference play.
Rossi was named the CCC’s Coach of the Year after leading the Yotes to their first outright CCC regular season crown since the 2001 season (C of I shared the regular season crown last year). The Yotes won the CCC with a 14-4 record to earn an automatic berth in the upcoming NAIA Championships in Sioux City, Iowa. The Yotes were ranked as high as 16th during the regular season, finishing at No. 20 in the NAIA’s final poll released Feb. 22.
Others named to the 12-person All-CCC team included Concordia’s Danielle Clauson; Corban’s Katie Steigleman; Warner Pacific’s Kristina Schumacher; Eastern Oregon’s Tana Stickney; College of Idaho’s Whitney Owen and Katie Strunk; and Oregon Tech’s Brittany Cherry.
Twelve players earned honorable mention All-CCC honors: Jessalyn Jackson, Northwest; Lori Renner, Northwest Christian; Camryn Calhoun, Warner Pacific; Kyle Miller, Eastern Oregon; Rachel Scarpelli, Concordia; Jennesa Miller, Corban; Nicole Bruce, College of Idaho; Ashlee Michelson, Eastern Oregon; Ann Snodderly, Concordia; Marissa Towry, Warner Pacific; Ashley Baker, Southern Oregon; Tess Bennett, Corban.
2009-10 Cascade Collegiate Conference All-League Team
Co-Players of the Year: Jacki Speer, Southern Oregon; Jessica Wilkerson, Northwest
Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Nicole Gall, College of Idaho; Kelsey Mattsen, Warner Pacific
Newcomer of the Year: Latrina Woods, Evergreen
Coach of the Year: Reagan Rossi, College of Idaho
Team Champions of Character: Eastern Oregon, Northwest Christian
| Name |
Institution |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
| Jacki Speer* |
Southern Oregon |
F |
Sr. |
Centralia, Wash. |
| Jessica Wilkerson* |
Northwest |
G |
Sr. |
Issaquah, Wash. |
| Nicole Gall |
College of Idaho |
G |
Jr. |
Boise, Idaho |
| Danielle Clauson |
Concordia |
F |
Jr. |
Edmonds, Wash. |
| Katie Steigleman |
Corban |
G-F |
So. |
Eugene, Ore. |
| Kristina Schumacher |
Warner Pacific |
G |
Sr. |
Lake Stevens, Wash. |
| Kelsey Mattsen |
Warner Pacific |
G |
So. |
Portland, Ore. |
| Tana Stickney |
Eastern Oregon |
F |
Sr. |
Yakima, Wash. |
| Latrina Woods |
Evergreen |
G |
Jr. |
Skyway, Wash. |
| Whitney Owen |
College of Idaho |
G |
Sr. |
Caldwell, Idaho |
| Brittany Cherry |
Oregon Tech |
F |
Jr. |
Pasco, Wash. |
| Katie Strunk |
College of Idaho |
F |
Sr. |
Shoshone, Idaho |
| *indicates co-Player of the Year |
Honorable Mention: Jessalyn Jackson, C, Northwest; Lori Renner, F, Northwest Christian; Camryn Calhoun, G, Warner Pacific; Kyle Miller, G, Eastern Oregon; Rachel Scarpelli, G, Concordia; Jennesa Miller, G-F, Corban; Nicole Bruce, C, College of Idaho; Ashlee Michelson, F, Eastern Oregon; Ann Snodderly, C, Concordia; Marissa Towry, C, Warner Pacific; Ashley Baker, F, Southern Oregon; Tess Bennett, F, Corban.