The South Atlantic Conference Announces 2016 Volleyball Annual Awards

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSac.com) – Queens outside hitter Meredith Jones was voted the 2016 South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Player of the Year, while Anderson's Emily Conlin was voted the Conference's Freshman of the Year.  In addition, Lincoln Memorial mentor Jenny Michael was tabbed the Coach of the Year, the League announced today.

Jones, a senior from Blythewood, S.C., closed the regular season ranking first in four categories in the Conference. In kills per set, Jones averaged 3.71 while totaling 386 kills, and accumulated 456.5 points, averaging 4.19 points per set to secure herself as the leader in those statistics. The senior placed second in attacks per set at 10.69. In addition, Jones has also posted 10 double-doubles on the season and earned three Player of the Week honors.

Conlin, a native of Glendale, Ariz. started all 31 matches for Anderson, and played in a total of 121 sets at the end of her first regular season campaign. The freshman setter finished first in assists with 1246, and averaged 10.30 assists per set, which was also good enough for a first place finish in the Conference. Conlin was also named the AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Specialist of the Week two times during the season.

Jenny Michael led the Railsplitters to the most single season SAC wins in program history as they posted 17 conferences wins. Their second place finish marked the best finish for the team since the 2011 season. During the 2016 season, the Railsplittters ranked second in the league with 13.2 kills per set, 12.37 assists per set, and a .222 average at the net. Their 16.7 points per set was also good for second among the league leaders. Defensively the Railsplitters turned away 2.13 attacks per set to rank third in the league. As the Railsplitters tallied 1904 points during the 2016 season, a mark that was good for third in the South Atlantic Conference. Lincoln Memorial's 24 wins overall are the most in a program history. The honor marks her first Coach of the Year honor and is also Lincoln Memorial's first ever Coach of the Year honor.

Lincoln Memorial led the Conference with two selections on the First Team All-Conference in Abby Cash and Samantha Cash. Wingate's Abby Saehler represented the Bulldogs on the First Team.  Marissa Mitter of Anderson, Bri Howard of Catawba, Logan Hayward of Newberry, and Tusculum's Melissa Mazur rounded out the list of First Team selections.

First Team
Outside Hitter: Meredith Jones, Queens
Outside Hitter: Abby Saehler, Wingate
Setter: Abby Cash, Lincoln Memorial
Outside Hitter: Marissa Mitter, Anderson
Setter: Samantha Cash, Lincoln Memorial
Outside Hitter: Logan Hayward, Newberry
Outside Hitter: Bri Howard, Catawba
Defensive Specialist: Melissa Mazur, Tusculum 

Second Team
Outside Hitter: Oakley Attaway, Wingate
Setter: Emily Conlin, Anderson
Middle Blocker: Emily Steele, Lenoir-Rhyne
Middle Blocker: Madison Darby-McClure, Newberry
Outside Hitter: Brooke Redmond, Lenoir-Rhyne
Setter: Sydney Kunz, Queens
Middle Blocker: Rachel Burts, Anderson
Defensive Specialist: Treslyn Ortiz, Wingate 

Honorable Mention
Setter: Rachell Alles, Wingate
Middle Blocker: Laryssa Welch, Tusculum
Outside Hitter: Kiera Holland, Lincoln Memorial
Setter: Maggie Marsh, Newberry
Outside Hitter: Liz Brock, Lincoln Memorial
Outside Hitter: Rebecca Cochran, Queens
Libero: Taylor Lowe, Carson-Newman
Defensive Specialist: Megan Mancini, Queens 

All-Freshman
Emily Conlin, Anderson
Rachel Alles, Wingate
Toni-Anne Whitlow, Newberry
Treslyn Ortiz, Wingate
Marnie Streeter, Carson-Newman
Hallie Zumack, Tusculum 

Player of the Year
Meredith Jones, Queens 

Freshman of the Year
Emily Conlin, Anderson

Coach of the Year
Jenny Michael, Lincoln Memorial

Team Hitting Percentage: Wingate (.238)
Team Assists Per Set: Wingate (13.03)
Team Kills Per Set: Wingate (13.94)
Team Winning Percentage: Wingate (.839)
Team Opponent Hitting Percentage: Wingate (.140)
Team Blocks Per Set: Lenoir-Rhyne (2.35)
Team Service Aces Per Set: Wingate (1.80)
Team Digs Per Set: Mars Hill (19.20)