SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU outside hitter Briana Allmon has been named 2016 Southern Conference volleyball player of the year, and ETSU’s Lindsey Devine is the Coach of the Year, as voted on by all nine of the league’s coaches. In addition, UNCG sophomore Christina Gregory earned Libero of the Year status, while Wofford outside hitter Catie Cronister claimed the Rayna Taylor Award, given annually to the league’s freshman of the year.
Allmon’s Player of the Year selection follows a senior campaign that saw her lead a first-place ETSU squad, while averaging 4.26 kills per set. The Flower Mound, Texas, native also tallied seven double-doubles on the season. Against Western Carolina on Oct. 7, Allmon notched a career-high 28 kills in a five-set win over the Catamounts to begin what became an eight-match winning streak for the Bucs.
Devine’s coach of the year distinction comes on the heels of ETSU’s first SoCon regular-season title since 1991. The Bucs, who were predicted to finish tied for fifth in the coaches’ preseason poll, posted a 13-3 conference record and went 21-7 overall, thanks in large part to a pair of All-SoCon first-team selections in Allmon and AJ Lux. Lux, a sophomore outside hitter, was the Bucs’ most efficient hitter with a hitting percentage of .321 and averaged 2.89 kills per set on the season.
UNCG libero Christina Gregory led the regular-season runners-up, who were second in the league in opponent hitting percentage (.182). Gregory also led the conference in digs per set (5.23) and was named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Month in both September and October. The Louisville, Ky., native was also tabbed the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week on three occasions this season.
Like ETSU, UNCG had two first-team all-conference selections, with Ashley Muench and Allison Penner earning spots on the squad. Erin Bognar (Samford), Kristy Wieser (Chattanooga) and Colleen Reilly (Wofford) round out the first team.
The All-SoCon Second Team features Moriah Smith (The Citadel), Annie Bierman (Furman), Taina Joseph (Furman), Morgan MacGilvary (Mercer), Gregory (UNCG), Jasmine Jones (UNCG) and Cronister (Wofford).
Cronister headlined the All-Freshman Team by being tabbed the Freshman of the Year by the league’s head coaches. Cronister started 30 matches for the Terriers this season and led all SoCon freshmen with 3.79 kills per set, which is good for fourth overall in the league. The freshman outside hitter was also fifth in the league in service aces per set, averaging 0.31.
The SoCon All-Freshman team includes middle blocker Kaela Massey (ETSU), outside hitter Kelsi Hobbs (Samford), middle blocker Dani Szczepanski (Chattanooga), middle blocker Aleah Keaton (Western Carolina), outside hitter Abigail Veit (Western Carolina), middle blocker Kara Shacklette (Wofford) and Cronister (Wofford).
The Southern Conference Volleyball Championship will begin Saturday, Nov. 19, on the campus of Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. Action kicks off at 9:30 a.m. CT with a showdown between eighth-seeded Furman and ninth-seeded The Citadel. ETSU is the top seed in the tournament and will face the winner of that match in the quarterfinal round at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The championship match is slated for Monday at 6 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on ESPN3. BRACKET
2016 All-Southern Conference Volleyball Teams and Awards
Player of the Year – Briana Allmon, ETSU, Sr., OH
Libero of the Year – Christina Gregory, UNCG, So., LIB
Rayna Taylor Freshman of the Year – Catie Cronister, Wofford, OH
Coach of the Year – Lindsey Devine, ETSU
All-SoCon First Team
Briana Allmon, ETSU, Sr., OH
AJ Lux, ETSU, So., OH
Ashley Muench, UNCG, Jr., OH
Allison Penner, UNCG, So., S
Erin Bognar, Samford, Sr., OH
Kristy Wieser, Chattanooga, Sr., MB/RS
Colleen Reilly, Wofford, So., MB
All-SoCon Second Team
Moriah Smith, The Citadel, Jr., OH
Taina Joseph, Furman, Sr., MB
Annie Bierman, Furman, Sr., OH
Morgan MacGilvary, Mercer, Jr., OH
Christina Gregory, UNCG, So., LIB
Jasmine Jones, UNCG, R-So., MH
Catie Cronister, Wofford, Fr., OH
All-Freshman Team
Kaela Massey, ETSU, MB
Kelsi Hobbs, Samford, OH
Dani Szczepanski, Chattanooga, MB
Aleah Keaton, Western Carolina, MB
Abigail Veit, Western Carolina, OH
Catie Cronister, Wofford, OH
Kara Shacklette, Wofford, MB
-www.SoConSports.com-