GREENSBORO, N.C. ? The Southern Conference announced its annual postseason awards Thursday night as part of the 2008 SoCon Volleyball Championships. Top seeds Samford and College of Charleston picked up 12 of the possible 22 awards given out in voting done by the league’s head coaches.
After winning the North Division title in its first season in the SoCon, Samford picked up several awards. Outside hitter Ashley Adams and setter Hillary Fountain were named first team all-conference, while middle blocker Kirstein Sosnowski was tabbed to the second team and middle blocker Rachel Gadberry to the all-freshman team. Adams was also named the Player of the Year after winning three player of the week awards and September’s Athlete of the Month during the season.
College of Charleston won its eighth straight regular season title this season by winning the South Division title. Last season’s Freshman of the Year, Cole Dawley, was named to the all-conference first team, while outside hitter Emily Sawin and middle blocker Elyse Chubb were selected second-team all-conference. Chubb also made the all-freshman team and was selected the league’s Freshman of the Year, marking the second year in a row a College of Charleston player has won the award. Head Coach Jason Kepner was selected the Coach of the Year, his second in as many years.
The north’s second seed, UNC Greensboro, had three players honored as outside hitter Branagan Fuller and middle bocker Kayren Finney were selected to the first team, while middle blocker Kaitlyn Nortz made the second team.
Rounding out the first-team was Chattanooga senior libero, Lara Newberry. Newberry earned her third all-conference selection of her career. The NCAA record holder for career digs also was tabbed as the SoCon Libero of the Year for the second straight year.
Furman, the No. 2 seed in the South Division, had a pair of players make the all-conference second team in outside hitter Alison West and middle blocker Nicole Palazzo.
Also making the all-freshman team was a pair of Elon Phoenix, outside hitter Caroline Lemke and right side hitter Traci Stewart, along with Georgia Southern’s Bethany Sanford.
The 2008 Southern Conference Volleyball Championships begin Friday morning at 10 a.m. when the south division’s No. 2-seed Furman faces off against the north division’s No.-3 seed Chattanooga. Samford meets Davidson in the second match, followed by College of Charleston against Elon. The final match of the quarterfinals pits the host institution and No 2 seed from the north division, UNC Greensboro against Georgia Southern. All matches can be seen on SoConTV.com. The Southern Conference Volleyball Championships page will be updated throughout the tournament and can be found by going to www.soconsports.com.
All-Conference
First Team
Cole Dawley ? College of Charleston
Kayren Finney ? UNC Greensboro
Branagan Fuller ? UNC Greensboro
Ashley Adams ? Samford
Hillary Fountain ? Samford
Lara Newberry ? Chattanooga
Second Team
Emily Sawin ? College of Charleston
Elyse Chubb ? College of Charleston
Alison West ? Furman
Nicole Palazzo ? Furman
Kaitlyn Nortz ? UNC Greensboro
Kirstein Sosnowski ? Samford
All-Freshmen
Elyse Chubb ? College of Charleston
Emily Shelton ? College of Charleston
Caroline Lemke - Elon
Traci Stewart - Elon
Bethany Sanford ? Georgia Southern
Rachel Gadberry - Samford
Player of the Year
Ashley Adams - Samford
Freshman of the Year
Elyse Chubb ? College of Charleston
Libero of the Year
Lara Newberry - Chattanooga
Coach of the Year
Jason Kepner ? College of Charleston