FAIRFAX, Va. – Two George Mason women's volleyball players earned all-state honors from the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID).
 
Freshman opposite hitter ShaLi Niu was named VaSID Rookie of the Year while senior libero Catie Espinoza tabbed the second team libero slot.
 
Niu, a Laie, Hawaii native, adds another honor to her already decorated freshman campaign. A two-time Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week, she was named to the A-10 All-Rookie Team at the end of the season. 
 
Niu finished her freshman season second on the team in kills per set (2.54) and points per set (3.04). She tabbed 10-plus kills in 10 matches, including a career-high 28 kills on Oct. 19. She also tallied three doubles-doubles.
 
Espinoza, a Virginia Beach, Va. native, earns her first VaSID all-state honor after snagging the second team libero spot. The libero finished her career at Mason atop every digs record. She averaged 4.76 digs per set in 2018 – good for third in the Atlantic 10. She was also named Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week after posting a season-high 33 digs on Oct. 5
 
The senior captain led Mason to its best Atlantic 10 record of 8-6 and to its first ever trip to the A-10 Championship in program history.
 
VaSID names 27 All-State teams in 15 sports each year, as well as an Academic All-State squad and an all-sports champion in both the University and College Divisions. Membership in VaSID is open to all media relation's professionals working at a university or conference in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

 
VaSID All-State Player of the Year – M'Kaela White (James Madison)
VaSID Rookie of the Year –    ShaLi Niu (George Mason)
VasID Coach of the Year – Lauren Steinbrecher (James Madison)
 
First Team
At Large - Tori Baldwin (VCU) **
At Large - Megann Delgado (Hampton)
At Large - Mallory McKnight (Radford)
At Large - Jasmin Sneed (VCU) **
At Large - Jaila Tolbert (Virginia Tech) **
At Large - M'Kaela White (James Madison) **
Libero/DS - Sarah Driscoll (James Madison)
 
Second Team
At Large - Sarah Billiard (Virginia)
At Large - Milla Ciprian (Virginia)
At Large - Casey Goodwin (Liberty) **
At Large - Haley Kleepsies (Radford) ***
At Large - Sarah Martin (James Madison) **
At Large - Bryn Recker (James Madison) **
Libero/DS - Catie Espinoza (George Mason)
*** - three-time all-state
** - two-time all-state