2015 Volleyball All-Conference Awards announced

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - The Appalachian Athletic Conference announced the 2015 Volleyball All-Conference Team and awards on Wednesday, and Ana Calaza of Union College is the Player of the Year.

Calaza, a senior libero from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, paced the conference with 676 digs this season in helping Union to a 24-12 overall record. She earned the Defender of the Week award six times this season and collected her 2,000th career dig. She ranks 16th in the NAIA in total digs and 29th in digs per set (5.9). On Oct. 17, she posted a season-high 32 digs in a five-set match against St. Andrews University and had 29 digs in a 3-0 win over Theil College on Sept. 5. Calaza also posted 31 aces this year.

In addition to being named the Player of the Year, Calaza is also the Libero of the Year.

Other individual award winners include: Jessica Davenport of Milligan College as the Setter of the Year, Jocelyn Mahayag of Truett-McConnell College as the Freshman of the Year, and Jeremy Wise of Union as the Coach of the Year.

Davenport, a senior from Cleveland, Tenn., averaged 9.4 assists per set as she recorded 1,169 assists for Milligan. A four-time Setter of the Week honoree, she recorded the most assists by any player in the AAC this season with a 57-assist performance against Bluefield College on Sept. 22. Davenport ranks 25th nationally in total assists, and she 244 digs and 35 service aces this season.

Mahayag, a freshman libero from Kennessaw, Ga., was second in the league with 654 digs but led with a 6.5 digs per set. She was second on Truett-McConnell with 19 service aces. Mahayag received the Defender of the Week award once this season.

Wise is in his third year at Union and received the Coach of the Year award after the Bulldogs finished 24-12 overall and 15-5 in conference play. He also collected his 400th career win this season.

Making the 14-member All-AAC First Team are: Rachel Alley of Bluefield; Shelby Grace Enochs and Kara Stamper of Bryan College; Richelle Prijic of Columbia College; Davenport and Emilee Linkous of Milligan; Ally Hurd of Reinhardt University; Angelica Arroyo and Nora Darrhar of St. Andrews University; Kirsten Henry of Tennessee Wesleyan College; Mahayag of Truett-McConnell; Calaza, Rachel Andrews and Marissa Elam of Union.

Earning a spot on the All-AAC Second Team are: Ashley Mattoch of Bryan; Marissa Langford of Milligan; Anyla Kryeziu of Montreat College; Sam Croce of Reinhardt; Jaden Lynch of St. Andrews; and Chandler Gray of Union.

Joining Mahayag on the All-Freshmen Team are: Camry McCroskey of Bluefield; Hope Burnett of Bryan; Lauren Applewhite of Tennessee Wesleyan; Katie Russell of Truett-McConnell; and Maggie McGraw of Union.

Making the Champions of Character Team are: Burnett of Bryan, Savannah Benton of Milligan, Emily Howard of Montreat, Brittany Jacobson of Point University, Nancy Hatcher of Reinhardt, Tessa Smith of St. Andrews, Henry of Tennessee Wesleyan, Morgan Harris of Truett-McConnell, and Gray of Union.

There are 64 student-athletes who earned a spot on the All-Academic Team. Bluefield led way with nine honorees, while Montreat was next in line with eight.

To view all of the awards, click here.