Grant named SAC Freshman of the Year, Jimenez named All-SAC First Team selection

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Mars Hill middle hitter Katilyn Grant was named the South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Freshman of the Year Tuesday morning.  

Grant, a native of Alabaster, Ala., ranks among the top of the SAC with a .363 hitting percentage on the season. In her 25 matches played, she averaged 2.46 kills per set and recorded 214 kills, 12 assists, 37 digs, 61 blocks for 253.5 points. Along with Freshman of the Year honors, she was named to the All-SAC Second Team and All-SAC Freshman team.

Laela Jimenez was named to the All-SAC First Team as a libero. Jimenez was the statistical champion in digs per set (5.78) for the second year in a row and led the conference in that category as well as total digs (533), over 100 more than second place. Her 5.78 digs per set ranks her fourth in Division II.

The Lions were named the statistical champions in digs per set, racking up 18.93 throughout the season. Mars Hill ranks seventh in DII.

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2023 SAC Volleyball All-Conference

First Team

Emmaleigh Allen, Lenoir-Rhyne

Emiah Burrowes, Tusculum

Jaelyn Grimm, Anderson

Laela Jimenez, Mars Hill (L)

Jenna Long, Anderson

Kathy Peter, Lenoir-Rhyne

Julia Wheeler, Carson-Newman

Maggie Young, Wingate

Second Team

Brantley Chipley, Anderson

Katilyn Grant, Mars Hill

Riley Hill, Catawba (L)

Emily Johnson, Wingate

Sadie Kluner, Anderson

Kristen Moehring, Lincoln Memorial

Amber Rowoldt, Wingate

Gabby Saye, Wingate

Third Team

Madison Adkins, Tusculum

Aly Freeland, Tusculum

Sydney Karjala, Lenoir-Rhyne

Ketura Margaret, Lincoln Memorial

Maggie Mullen, Wingate (L)

Tatum Riddle, Limestone

Rylie Sargent, Anderson

Tabitha Wheeler, Anderson

All-Freshman

Katilyn Grant, Mars Hill
Riley Hill, Catawba
Sydney Karjala, Lenoir-Rhyne
Sydney Morland, Wingate
Caley Sosnowski, Tusculum
Maya Van Heyst, Wingate

Player of the Year

Maggie Young, Wingate

Freshman of the Year

Katilyn Grant, Mars Hill

Coach of the Year

Todd Hay, Anderson

Statistical Champions

Hitting Percentage: Maggie Young, Wingate (.438)

Kills Per Set: Julia Wheeler, Carson-Newman (3.77)

Assists Per Set: Jenna Long, Anderson (11.27)

Blocks Per Set: Cassidy Farley, UVA Wise (1.21)

Service Aces: Aly Freeland, Tusculum (45)

Digs Per Set: Laela Jimenez, Mars Hill (5.78)

Team Hitting Percentage: Wingate (.287)

Team Assists Per Set: Wingate (13.20)

Team Kills Per Set: Anderson (14.25)

Team Winning Percentage: Wingate (.926)

Team Opponent Hitting Percentage:  Tusculum (.125)

Team Blocks Per Set: Wingate (2.29)

Team Service Aces Per Set: Tusculum (2.17)

Team Digs Per Set: Mars Hill (18.93)