By: Brian Howard
HOUSTON, Texas | Grambling State University redshirt senior Haley Gomez was selected the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Blocker of the Year, the conference announced during its annual volleyball tournament banquet on Thursday night.
Gomez's honor highlighted a GSU volleyball program that went 15-11 overall and 12-4 in league play. In addition, Gomez, along with teammates Ana Calderon and Jayden James, were named to the All-SWAC First Team.
Gomez finished with 108 total blocks (44 solos and 64 assists) averaging 1.11 blocks per set which was the best in the league. In addition, she leads the conference in total blocks. Gomez finished the season with 157 kills while also posting 76 digs to go along with 1.62 kills per set.
Calderon led Grambling State in assists, finishing the regular season with 537 assists (.374 percentage), averaging 5.65 assists per set. She ranked second in the conference in service aces, with 37 and averaging 0.39 service aces per set.
James, who earned SWAC Player of the Week honors three times this season, led Grambling State offensively this season, posting 356 kills, averaging 3.91 kills per set, which ranks first in the conference and 58th nationally. She also ranks first in the conference in points, with 396.5. She finished the regular season with 21 double-digit matches in kills and posted 11 double-double matches in kills and digs.Â
Florida A&M captured Player of the Year (Dominique Washington), Libero of the Year (Brooke Hudson), Setter of the Year (Irem Ucar) and Newcomer of the Year (Brooke Lynn Watts). Kylee Owens, of Prairie View A&M, was selected the Freshman of the Year.
Joining Gomez, Calderon and James on the first team was Lynn Watts, Washington, Ucar, Hudson, Alexis Williams (Jackson State) and Kalysia Bates (Alabama State).Â
Owens, Jada Rhodes (Alabama State), A'Nylah Cobb (Alabama State), Emily Brooks (Alabama State), Temperance Chatman (Alabama State), Bailey Duckett (Alabama A&M), Aja Jones (Florida A&M), Taila Gaines (Jackson State) and Alisha Callender (Bethune-Cookman) were named to the All-SWAC Second Team.
Grambling State, the No. 3 seed, opens the SWAC Volleyball Tournament on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals against No. 6-seeded Bethune-Cookman. Fans can follow the action the SWAC Digital Network.
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