BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced the 2014 All-SWAC Women's Volleyball Teams on Friday, November 21, with Alabama State’s Myla Marshall, Ellyn Jones and Briana Dorsey, Texas Southern’s Kali Fluke, Southern’s Diamond Williams and Prairie View A&M’s Ana Kiso earning individual awards.
The selections were chosen based on the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
Alabama State registered an undefeated conference season to win the Eastern Division Championship. And with three student-athletes on the first team and one on the second, the Hornets lead post-season accolades with the most members on the All-Conference Teams. The Tigers of Texas Southern, who secured the Western Division Championship with a 7-1 conference record, followed with three selections, while Southern and Prairie View A&M tied, each collecting two awards. Members of Jackson State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Alcorn State also made the all-conference teams.
Marshall and Fluke share the Player of the Year award based on their outstanding performance this season. Marshall was named SWAC Offensive Player of the Week twice this season and leads the conference and the Hornets in hitting percentage (.333). Participating in 31 matches, Marshall started in 30, grabbing 234 kills, 55 digs, 87 total blocks and 300 points. The junior from Memphis, Tenn. secured career-high numbers during the match against North Carolina A&T. Her career accomplishments include: 2012 All-SWAC Second Team, 2012 Southern University Invitational All-Tournament, 2013 SWAC Defensive Player of the Week, 2013 Southern University Invitational All-Tournament Team, 2013 SWAC Offensive Player of the Week, 2013 All-SWAC First Team (Middle Hitter/Blocker), 2013 SWAC All-Tournament Team, 2014 Preseason All-SWAC First Team, joined the 500 Kill Club in the match against Southeast Missouri and became a member of 600 Kill Club in the match against Mississippi Valley State.
Fluke was named SWAC Offensive Player of the Week twice this season. Starting in 21 out of 24 matches, she produced 237 kills, 36 digs, 69 total blocks and 287.5 points. She leads the Tigers with a .304 hitting percentage. The sophomore from San Antonio, Texas was named 2013 SWAC Freshman of the Year and to the Preseason, All-SWAC Second Team. She became the second freshman from Texas Southern to earn the award following teammate Robyn Shannon who won SWAC Freshman of the Year in 2012. She helped lead TSU to a conference best .211 team hitting percentage. At the time, Fluke ranked second in the SWAC in the same category hitting .324 with 167 kills. Her 2.65 kills per set stood third in the conference.
Jones was named Setter of the Year. In her second season with the Hornets, Jones registered a career-high 42 assists against Jacksonville State, September 16th. She leads the Hornets with 566 assists and the conference with 47 service aces. She is ranked 19th by the NCAA in aces per set and 11th in service aces. Jones was named SWAC Setter of the Week twice. Her career accomplishments include: reaching 1,000 career assists against Alcorn State, being named SWAC Newcomer of the Week twice in 2013, being named SWAC Setter of the Week once in 2013 and joining the 2014 ISTAP Collegiate Cup 2 All-Tournament Team.
Defensive player, Williams, secured the Libero of the Year award. The sophomore from Fort Worth, Texas is nationally ranked in aces (28th) and digs (44th) per set by the NCAA. Williams has 33 service aces, while leading the conference and the Jaguars with 393 digs. She was named SWAC Defensive Player of the Week during the week of September 30th.
Prairie View A&M’s Kiso received the Newcomer of the Year award. Kiso started in every match she participated in this season, helping her to lead the conference and the Panthers in assists with 669. She also earned 55 kills, 174 digs and 19 blocks. Kiso was voted SWAC Setter of the Week twice and Newcomer of the Week three times in 2014.
2014 CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Kali Fluke, Texas Southern
Myla Marshall, Alabama State
2014 SETTER OF THE YEAR
Ellyn Jones, Alabama State
2014 LIBERO OF THE YEAR
Diamond Williams, Southern
2014 NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Ana Kiso, Prairie View A&M
2014 FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Briana Dorsey, Alabama State
FIRST TEAM
OUTSIDE HITTER
Rachel Smith, Alabama State
Robyn Shannon, Texas Southern
MIDDLE BLOCKER
Myla Marshal, Alabama State
Kali Fluke, Texas Southern
Mikayla Rolle, Jackson State
SETTER
Ellyn Jones, Alabama State
LIBERO
Diamond Williams, Southern
SECOND TEAM
OUTSIDE HITTER
Kyanna Sales, Alabama A&M
Candyce Alexander, Prairie View A&M
MIDDLE BLOCKER
Leilani Lealaimatafao, Southern
Whitney Harris, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
SETTER
Ana Kiso, Prairie View A&M
Sarah Wooten, Texas Southern
LIBERO
Vanessa Ortega, Alcorn State
Courtesy: SWAC.org