courtesy of www.swac.org

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its Spring 2021 All-SWAC Volleyball teams and individual award winners on Thursday afternoon. The all-conference honors were voted on by the league's coaches and sports information directors.  

Arkansas-Pine Bluff's Zyonn Smith was named Player of the Year, while fellow teammate Haley Gomez claimed Blocker of the Year recognition.
Grambling State's Jada Taylor was tabbed Libero of the Year and Southern's Princes Stark claimed Setter of the Year accolades. 
Alcorn State's Mikenzie Young-Mullins was named Newcomer of the Year and Jackson State's Alexis Williams was tabbed Freshman of the Year rounding out the list of SWAC Volleyball individual award winners. 




Player of the Year
Arkansas Pine Bluff's Smith played a major part in turning UAPB's Volleyball program around. Smith leads the conference in four categories. She ranks first in the conference in total kills with 138, kills per set, averaging 3.7, ranks first in total points with 149.5, and second in points per set, averaging 4.0. Smith had a career-high 20 kills against Jackson State this season.


Blocker of the Year
Arkansas-Pine Bluff's Gomez was named SWAC Player of the Week twice this season for her leadership and protection around the net. She was a key contributor in helping the Lady Lions hold the top spot in blocks per set as a team, averaging 2.2. Individually Gomez ranks first in the conference with a total of 51 blocks and leads the conference in block per set, averaging 1.4 per set, and ranks fourth in the conference in points per set, averaging 3.8. Gomez had a career-high eight blocks this season against Texas Southern.

 
Libero of the Year
Grambling State's Taylor leads the Lady Tigers with over 200 digs on the year, for a GSU team that concluded regular season play in fourth place in the SWAC. She is also ranks second in the SWAC in digs per game (5.2).


 
Setter of the Year
Southern's Stark led the conference this season in assist per game (5.6) and was a key contributor to the Lady Jaguars offensive unit. She tallied a season high 35 assist in a match versus Grambling State earlier this season. Stark also contributed 44 kills and 230 total assists for a Lady Jaguars that concluded the leagues regular season slated of matches ranked fifth place overall. 
 

Newcomer of the Year 
Alcorn State's Young-Mullins is a two-time SWAC Newcomer of the Week and also was named SWAC Defensive Player of the Week. She ranks fourth in the SWAC in kills per set (2.73), seventh in the SWAC in aces per set (0.40), while leading the Lady Braves in points per set, points, kills per set, kills, hitting percentage, service aces and aces per set.
 

Freshman of the Year
Jackson State's Williams was tabbed for SWAC Player of the Week honors three times this season including being named Newcomer of the Week twice. She ranks seventh in the SWAC in hitting percentage (.256), second in the kills (100), first in services aces per set (0.60), and first in points per set with 122 (4.4) as a freshman. She produced a season best 20 kills in a four-set win over UAPB. She also had 19 kills in a four-set win against Grambling State and had a match best 18 digs in a win at Grambling State.

 
The complete listing of all-conference selections and individual awards winners can be found below.

Player of the Year
Zyonn Smith- Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Blocker of the Year
Haley Gomez- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
 
Libero of the Year
Jada Taylor- Grambling State 


 
Setter of the Year
Princess Stark- Southern 
 
Newcomer of the Year
Mikenzie Young-Mullins- Alcorn State

Freshman of the Year
Alexis Williams- Jackson State
 
All-SWAC First Team
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Alexis Williams- Jackson State 
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Jada Carter- Southern 
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Jylen Whitten- Jackson State  
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Zyonn Smith- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Victoria Pearson- Prairie View A&M
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Haley Gomez- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Setter: Princess Stark- Southern 
Setter: Damassy Thompson- Jackson State
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Jada Taylor- Grambling State 
 
All-SWAC Second Team
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Tamaira Armstrong- Prairie View A&M 
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Gillian Jones- Grambling State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Mikenzie Young-Mullins- Alcorn State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Jordan Jones- Jackson State
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Marina Bianchi Brito- Jackson State
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Delaine Fulton- Southern 
Setter: Jakarta Hope- Prairie View A&M
Setter: Nikole Akamine- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Skyla Childs- Prairie View A&M
 
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.

Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.

Women's competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.

Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.

 

Related Videos

Now Playing:

• Play Video