Cal State San Bernardino senior outside hitter Lauren Nicholson, who finished the CCAA regular season as the Coyotes’ leading offensive threat, is this year's Player of the Year, the association announced Wednesday afternoon.

 Nicholson, who established a school-record 29 kills in a three-set match against Chico State, owns two of the top four kill performances in three-set matches in D2 and dominates offensive categories in the CCAA. She leads in kills/set (4.23), points/set (4.51), total attacks (1,048) and total kills (402).

 Her record achievement against Chico State ranks as the top kill feat in a three-set match in all NCAA divisions this season.

 It is the eighth time a Coyote has been so honored in school history and CSUSB's first since two-time National Player of the Year Samantha Middleborn won her second straight conference honor in 2011.

 It is Nicholson's second first-team honor in as many years.

 Joining Nicholson on the first team is junior middle blocker Hailey Jackson. The Apple Valley product ranks among CCAA leaders in blocks/set No. 3 (1.06), hitting percentage No. 2 (.367), total blocks No. 3 (100) and points/set No. 12 (3.2). She currently holds the second best D2 single-match hitting percentage of .917 (10-14 attacks) effort (11-0-12) in a match versus CSULA.

 Jackson was last year's CCAA Newcomer of the Year and was a second-team selection.

 Setter Jayann DeHoog, who was injured through the first three weeks of the season, was named to the second team for the second time in her three-year career. A first-team selection last year, the Bakersfield native helped CSUSB to a 9-0 home record and a 27-1 set record inside Coussoulis. She had four matches of 40 or more assists with a season-high 49 in a four-set win at UC San Diego.

 Earning CCAA honorable mention was freshman libero Leilia To'omalatai. The Arcadia native secured double-digit digs in 21 of 24 matches. She had five matches of 20 or more digs with team-high 31 vs. then No. 13 Wayne State, ranks seventh best in school history.

The Coyotes (18-7, 14-3 CCAA), who won the CCAA South Division, take on CCAA North fourth-seed Cal State Monterey Bay in the final opening-round match of the CCAA Tournament that begins Thursday at San Francisco State. The Coyotes are defending champions and are chasing their 13th conference title.

From left: Hailey Jackson, CCAA first team; Jayann DeHoog, CCAA second team; and Leilia To'omalatai, CCAA honorable mention.