Wingate's Young Named D2CCA Southeast Region Player of the Year; All-Southeast Region Teams Announced

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) ----The Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) announced the 2023 All-Southeast Region Volleyball Teams Thursday morning. Wingate University middle blocker Maggie Young has been named the D2CCA Southeast Region Player of the Year. The South Atlantic Conference is represented with nine student-student athletes: Wingate leads the way with four All-Region selections, while Anderson follows with two. Lenoir-Rhyne, Carson-Newman and Mars Hill each had one honoree.

Young was named the 2023 SAC Player of the Year, leading the SAC and the region in hitting percentage while ranking fourth in the nation. Young is hitting .431 for the regular season SAC champion Bulldogs, who are the top-ranked team in the region, earning hosting duties at the Southeast Regionals. She is averaging 2.36 kills and 0.84 blocks per set, adding 80 digs and 32 aces.

Young leads the way as the first team All-Region middle blocker. Lenoir-Rhyne All-SAC honoree Kathy Peter is also a first team selection. She ranks second in the SAC with 1.16 blocks per set, registering 2.31 kills per set while ranking sixth in the conference with a .341 hitting percentage. Anderson's Jenna Long is the first team All-Region setter. She is averaging a region-best 11.27 assists per set, ranking eighth in the nation while adding 3.28 digs per set to go along with 71 kills and 24 aces to help the Trojans lead the SAC in kills per set and rank second in hitting percentage.

Wingate's Gabby Saye leads the way as a second team All-Region selection as an outside hitter. She leads the Bulldogs with 2.77 kills per set, ranking seventh in the SAC with a .340 hitting percentage. Carson-Newman's Julia Wheeler rounds out the second team All-Region outside hitters. The All-SAC honoree leads the league with 3.81 kills per set, adding 2.59 digs per set to go along with 24 aces. Wingate's Emily Johnson is also a second team middle blocker. She ranks third in the SAC with 1.10 blocks per set and eighth with a .337 hitting percentage, collecting 2.25 kills per set. Jaelyn Grimm rounds out the All-Region middle blockers. The first team All-SAC honoree ranks second in the SAC and eighth in the nation with a .416 hitting percentage, piling up 2.65 kills per set to go along with 0.65 blocks per set.

Maggie Mullen of Wingate is a second team All-Region libero. She averages 4.15 digs per set, adding 108 assists and 27 aces. Mars Hill's Laela Jimenez rounds out the All-Region liberos. The All-SAC honoree leads the conference with 5.73 digs per set, good for fourth in the nation while adding 103 assists and 19 aces.

The Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2 CCA) encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.

D2CCA VOLLEYBALL ALL-SOUTHEAST REGION TEAMS

First Team All-Region

OH – Jazmyn Wheeler, Augusta

OH – Katie Miller, Lander

OH – Vanja Przulj, UNC Pembroke

MB – Maggie Young, Wingate

MB – Kathy Peter, Lenoir-Rhyne

S – Jenna Long, Anderson

LB – Patricia Pantoja, Lander

Second Team All-Region

OH – Gabby Saye, Wingate

OH – Abigail Durham, North Greenville

OH – Julia Wheeler, Carson-Newman

MB – Madelyn Eden, Augusta

MB – Emily Johnson, Wingate

MB – Jaelyn Grimm, Anderson

S – Lauren Dow, Lander

LB – Maggie Mullen, Wingate

LB – Laela Jimenez, Mars Hill

Southeast Region Player of the Year | Maggie Young, Wingate