Women's Volleyball | 11/8/2023 1:03:00 PM
ROME, Ga. The USA South Athletic Conference announced its 2023 volleyball awards on Wednesday. Among the major award winners, Methodist own
Blake O'Brien was named Libero of the Year. O'Brien was also named to the league's All-Conference second team while teammates
Jeanana Fowler,
Hannah Hewett, and
Jamie Holton were recognized as first teamers. Additionally,
Savannah Hovander made the honorable mention list and
Mahala Carter represents the Monarchs on the All-Sportsmanship squad.
O'Brien, a senior, was an immediate factor in her first season at Methodist, while playing in every regular season match. The best defensive player in the entire USA South led the conference in both digs and digs per set, 603 & 6.09 respectively. Her digs per set was also ranked as the fifth-best mark in all of Division III, at the time of the start of the USA South Tournament. On offense, she led her team in service aces (39) and was second in assists (105).
A second team member a season ago, Fowler collects her second post-season accolade. The junior started in 25 matches during the regular season for Methodist. Her 301 kills, 3.04 k/set, ranked as the second-best offensive stat on the Monarchs. Defensively, she led her team in blocks with a total of 61 (28 solo, 33 assisted).
Improving on her honorable mention honor from last season, Hewett had one of her best overall seasons in her Methodist career. Starting in 25 regular season contests, the senior was one of the best setters in the USA South as her 1,027 assists and 10.37 a/set led the conference. Those numbers were also among the top-10 of the national rankings, in Division III. Her other offensive numbers include 30 service aces, second on the team, and 27 kills. On defense, she was second on the team in digs with 361 and had seven blocks.
Holton, a sophomore, had a solid season during her first season as a Monarch. In 25 regular season starts, she led the team with 365 kills, 3.69 k/set, which was also second most in the USA South. Right after O'Brien and Hewett, Holton had the third most service aces on her team with 27. The defensive front she had the third-most digs, 214, and the fourth-most blocks (21).
Hovander, a freshman, was impressive in her first season wearing the Green and Gold. While starting in 25 regular season matches, she finished third on the team in kills (292) and kills per set (2.95). She was also second on the team in total blocks, 60 (31 solo, 29 assisted).
