Jimenez named All-SAC First Team, Lions place three on All-SAC teams
The junior libero was named statistical champion in two categories.
MARS HILL, N.C. - Junior libero Laela Jimenez was selected to the All-South Atlantic Conference Volleyball First Team, as announced by the league Wednesday morning.
Jimenez, a native of Naples, Florida, is third in the nation in digs per set and has helped lead the Lions to the top spot in the country as the team leads all others in Division II, averaging over 20 digs per set. Jimenez was named a Defensive Player of the Week earlier in the season and also leads the conference in total digs and service aces.
Sophomore middle hitter Katilyn Grant was selected to the All-SAC Third Team. She leads Mars Hill with 219 kills and is fourth in the conference in blocks per set (1.03) and fifth in total blocks (98). She also was named a Defensive Player of the Week during the 2024 regular season.
Freshman setter Alyssa Kornegay was named to the All-SAC Freshman team. Kornegay split time as a setter this year with Mackenzie Schmucker, totalling 435 assists, averaging 4.73 per set. She added 172 digs, 21 aces, and 10 kills.
Jimenez was the statistical champion in digs per set (6.15) and service aces (37).
The Lions were one of the premier defenses in the league, being named statistical champions in opponent hitting percentage (.119), team blocks per set (2.30), and digs per set (20.45).
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On Tuesday, November 19, the Lions defeated Carson-Newman in South Atlantic Conference Quarterfinal action in straight sets. The win sent the Lions to the SAC Semifinals for the first time since 2011.
First serve versus the No.1 seed Wingate Bulldogs is set for 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 21 at the Rock Hill Sports & Events Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
