November 15, 2017

Pasour named to All-Freshman team, three Lions earn honorable mention

Mars Hill's Sarah Pasour earned South Atlantic Conference All-Freshman team honors while Lauren Hochstetler, Rebecca Butler and Sally Anne Johnson were named All-Conference Honorable Mentions.

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) - Wingate outside hitter Katie Bludau was voted the 2017 South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Player of the Year, while Lenoir-Rhyne's Taylor Prall was voted the Conference's Freshman of the Year. In addition, Anderson mentor Todd Hay was tabbed the Coach of the Year, the League announced today.

Bludau, a senior from Seabrook, Texas, started all 25 matches she played in for the Bulldogs. She finished the regular season with the league lead in kills per set (4.28), points per set (4.78) and ranked third in total kills (338). She totaled double-digit kills in 21 of her 25 matches. The senior finished sixth in the league with 9.91 attacks per set while finishing fifth with a .305 hitting percentage. Bludau was named 2017 AstroTurf SAC Volleyball Player of the Week on three separate occasions.

Prall, a freshman from Tipp City, Ohio, turned in an impressive freshman season as she played in all 26 matches for the Bears this season. She ranked 11^th in kills per set (2.77), while ranking 12^th in total kills (255), and points per set (3.1). She recorded a career high 21.5 points and 18 kills in a five-set victory against American International on September 1. On defense, she turned in a 17 dig performance on October 7 at Coker. Prall is the fourth Bear to win Freshman of the Year and first since teammate Brooke Redmond earned the honor in 2014.

Hay led the Trojans to a 26-3 overall record and a 19-1 record in league action as Anderson claimed their first ever SAC Volleyball Regular Season Championship. During the 2017 season, the Trojans ranked second in the league in numerous categories. They finished second in aces per set (1.64), assists per set (13.60), hitting percentage (.248), kills per set (14.12) and team assists (1.292). The Trojans finished out the regular season on a 21-game winning streak, the third longest active winning streak in Division-II Volleyball. The honor marks his first Coach of the Year honor and is also Anderson's first ever Coach of the Year honor.

2017 South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Player & Freshman of the Year Highlights

2017 SAC Volleyball All-Conference

First Team

Katie Bludau, Wingate

Marissa Mitter, Anderson

Anna Holmquist, Wingate

Rebecca Cochran, Queens

Rachel Burts, Anderson

Emily Conlin, Anderson

Sydney Kunz, Queens

Morgan Ballard, Carson-Newman (L)

Second Team