SWAC Announces 2016 Volleyball Honors

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced on Wednesday the 2016 All-SWAC Volleyball Teams with Ashundria McNeal of Alabama A&M and Ni’yesha Brown, Bayle’ Bennett, Justus Tuiolosega and Jamie Coleman of Alabama State. Accolades were voted on by the league’s coaches and sports information directors.

McNeal claimed her second-straight Player of the Year honor while Tuiolosega was named Setter of the Year. Coleman was tabbed as Libero of the Year. Brown earned top newcomer accolades, and Bennett was named Freshman of the Year.

McNeal, a First Team outside hitter, is tops the conference with 501 total kills. McNeal also leads the SWAC with 586.5 total points. The senior ranks in the top 15 nationally in total points, as well as cracks the top 25 rankings in the country when it comes to points per set. McNeal posted seven matches with at least 20 kills during the year.

Tuiolosega posted big numbers for the top-seeded and SWAC regular season champion Lady Hornets. The Moreno, Calif. native was fourth in the league in assists per set (5.68), sending out 545 total assists in 93 total sets. She also posted 157 digs and led the conference with 47 service aces. Against Chicago State on September 10, she dished out a personal-high 46 assists in the four-set match.

Alabama State led with six members on the All-SWAC Teams, as Tuiolosega also collected First Team Setter honors. Joining her on the First Team are Coleman (defensive specialist/libero), middle blocker/hitter Briana Dorsey, and Brown at outside hitter. Bennett and Krysta Medearis each garnered second-team honors at outside hitter.

Coleman, a senior from Farmington Hills, Mich., posted a league-leading 434 digs, averaging 4.52 per frame. She chipped in 90 assists and 18 service aces as well. Coleman, the preseason choice for defensive player of the year, led all players in weekly honors, earning defensive player of the week six times during the season.

Brown was second in Alabama State’s multi-pronged attack unit with 247 kills, averaging 2.68 per stanza. She also added in 57 digs and 41 total blocks as well. Her .229 attack percentage was fifth-best in the league. Brown was particularly strong during the second half of the season, posting double-digit kill totals in 11 of her last 13 matches.

Bennett posted 10 double-digit kill outings as she ended up with 225 in total. The Crete, Ill. native also provided 200 digs, 29 service aces, 10 assists and 20 blocks.

The entire 2016 All-SWAC honors are listed below.

2016 Player of the Year
Ashundria McNeal, Alabama A&M

2016 Setter of the Year
Justus Tuiolosega, Alabama State

2016 Libero of the Year
Jamie Coleman, Alabama State

2016 Newcomer of the Year
Ni’yesha Brown, Alabama State

2016 Freshman of the Year
Bayle Bennett, Alabama State

First Team
Outside Hitter
Ashundria McNeal, Alabama A&M
Ni’yesha Brown, Alabama State

Middle Hitter/Middle Blocker
Kali Fluke, Texas Southern

Briana Dorsey, Alabama State

Defensive Specialist
Jamie Coleman, Alabama State

Setter
Justus Tuiolosega, Alabama State

Second Team
Outside Hitter
Bayle Bennett, Alabama State
Krysta Medearis, Alabama State

Middle Hitter/Middle Blocker
Kianna Shelton, Jackson State
Paige Hall, Southern

Defensive Specialist
Diamond Williams,Southern

Setter
Asia Howard, Texas Southern
 
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