Lauryn Payne Named to MW All-Conference Team

New Mexico’s Lauryn Payne was named to the All-Mountain West Team as voted on by the league’s head coaches, the conference announced Tuesday.

Payne enjoyed a breakout year after becoming the Lobos’ go-to attacker in 2024, ranking in the Top 10 among MW individuals in kills per set (3.36) and points per set (3.56) while leading UNM in both. After accumulating 76 kills in her first two collegiate seasons, she put away 370 in 2024, ending the season with a new career-high of 26 kills in a five-set loss on the road to UNLV last Saturday.

As the Lobos bounced back from a 2-10 start to win four of their final six matches and close the season on a high note, Payne found a new level of efficiency, hitting above .200 in each of her last four outings and surpassing double-digit kills in each of her last six.

Colorado State’s Malaya Jones was tabbed the Mountain West Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year. Boise State’s Kiki Remensperger collected the Freshman of the Year award and San Diego State’s Shea Rubright garnered the Newcomer of the Year honor. Colorado State head coach Emily Kohan was named the Coach of the Year after leading the Rams to a 14-4 Conference record as well as the regular-season title and the No. 1 seed to the Credit Union 1 Mountain West Women’s Volleyball Championship.

Congratulations to our 2024 Mountain West Women’s Volleyball Honorees 🏐✨ pic.twitter.com/xAzTuYeWpm

— Mountain West (@MountainWest) November 26, 2024

At the conclusion of the regular season, the Lobos (13-15, 6-12 MW) led the league in team digs per set (15.77) for the third consecutive season, ranking second in blocks per set (2.53) and third in opponent hitting (.190) — they rank among the Top 100 in the nation in all three categories.