Chloe Smith Named Southland Volleyball Player of the Year
FRISCO, Texas - Central Arkansas junior Chloe Smith was named the 2009 Southland Conference Volleyball Player of the Year by a vote of the league's head coaches and sports information directors, the conference office announced Wednesday in conjunction with the release of the all-conference volleyball teams.
Smith, a native of San Diego, Calif., is the fourth player in Southland history to be named league player of the year in two consecutive seasons. Smith ranked third in overall kills (442) and led the league in kills per set (4.46) and total attacks (1,121). Her .280 hitting percentage ranks ninth. She also collected a league-leading four player of the week awards.
Central Arkansas claimed four-of-the six individual postseason awards given by the Southland Conference and led all teams with four all-conference selections. Joining Smith on the awards list are teammates Robyn Smith, who was named setter of the year, Cristin Curl, the libero of the year, and coach Steven McRoberts, who received coach of the year honors.
Robyn Smith received her second consecutive setter of the year award and is the first Central Arkansas student-athlete named to three consecutive first team all-conference volleyball teams. Smith, a native of Lubbock, Texas, is the first player in Southland history to lead the league in assists (1,134) for three consecutive seasons.
Curl, a native of Amarillo, Texas, is the first UCA player selected as libero of the year. A second-team all-conference selection, Curl leads the Southland in digs per set (4.63) and ranked third overall (486).
Steven McRoberts, the Southland Coach of the Year recipient, is the only active league coach to receive two consecutive coach of the year awards. McRoberts led Central Arkansas to its first regular-season league title in 2009 with an undefeated record in conference play, the first league team to run the table since 1994. The Sugar Bears also ended the season with a school record 18 sweeps. Every season as a Southland member, Central Arkansas has qualified for the conference tournament. However, because of its transition from NCAA Division II to Division I, the Sugar Bears have been ineligible for postseason play. They will be eligible in 2010.
Freshman and newcomer of the year honors were awarded to Wendy Krell of Lamar and Emma Ridley of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, respectively.
Krell, a native of Plano, Texas, is the first Lamar student-athlete named freshman of the year. A second-team all-conference selection, Krell ranked fifth in the league in hitting percentage (.300) and is one of only five Southland players to hit .300 this season.
Ridley is the second Islander named newcomer of the year, joining 2006 recipient Christie Feliz. Ridley, a native of Phoenix, Ariz., is the Islanders' first first-team all-conference selection as a Southland member. Ridley led the Southland in overall kills (464) and joins Chloe Smith as the only league players to average more than 4.00 kills per set (4.30).
Seven teams are represented on the all-conference first-team selections. Sam Houston State tied Central Arkansas with three first-team members. Texas State received two and Stephen F. Austin, Lamar, UT Arlington and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi each had one.
Senior Evaree Franklin rounds out the UCA first-team selections. A native of Sweeny, Texas, Franklin led the UCA offense with a .350 hitting percentage ranking second in the league. Franklin was also a dominant defensive presence for the Sugar Bears with 67 digs and a team-leading 78 blocks including nine solo.
Sam Houston State put together its first 20-win season since the 1996 squad won 25 matches. Representing the Bearkats on the first-team are senior Anna Ferguson, sophomore Carli Kolbe and freshman Kaylee Hawkins.
Ferguson, a native of Dallas, Texas, received her second consecutive first-team selection. A top-10 hitter in conference (.283, eighth), Ferguson ranks fourth in overall kills (434) and in kills per set (3.50). Ferguson joins Kolbe as the only league duo to each rank in the top four in total kills. A native of College Station, Texas, Kolbe ranks third in overall kills (444) and in kills per set (3.64). Hawkins, a native of Dickinson, Texas, is the only freshman selected to the first team. Hawkins ranks second in overall digs (496) and third in digs per set (4.28).
Texas State received two first-team selections. Senior Jessica Weynand makes her second consecutive first-team appearance and is joined by sophomore Amber Calhoun.
Weynand, a native of Brenham, Texas, ranks fifth in overall kills (344) and in kills per set (3.19). Calhoun, a native of Houston, Texas, led the league in hitting (.353) recording 158 kills on 334 attempts. Middleton, a native of Glendale, Ariz., is second on the team in kills (278) in addition to 180 digs and 24 blocks, including four solo.
Representing the Ladyjacks on the first team is senior Ashley Bailey. A native of Mesquite, Texas, Bailey ranks seventh in hitting percentage (.293) and led the league in solo blocks (24), block assists (124) and in total blocks (148).
Rounding out the first team selections are Lamar senior Adrianne Meengs and UT Arlington sophomore Tara Frantz.
Meengs, a native of Friendswood, Texas, is the only player in the Southland to rank in the top-10 in both assists and hitting percentage. A two-time first team all-conference selection, Meengs ranks seventh in overall assists (857), sixth in assists per set (8.74) and ranks sixth in hitting percentage (.293).
Frantz, a native of Santa Fe, Texas, led the Mavs in kills (220) in addition to 27 digs and 40 blocks.
Remaining second team selections are Stephen F. Austin sophomore M.C. Bottles, Texas State junior Mo Middleton, UT Arlington sophomore Emily Shearin and UTSA freshman Whitney Walls.
The 2009 All-Southland Conference Volleyball teams are comprised of 12 first team and six second team members. Teams are chosen by vote of the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The recipients are placed by the number of votes received.
The 2009 Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament gets underway Friday in San Antonio, Texas, with four first-round matches. The semifinals will be held Saturday with the championship match being played Sunday at 2 p.m. CST on the Southland Conference Television Network.
2009 All-Southland Conference Volleyball Teams
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First Team
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Name
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School
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Pos.
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Cl.
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Hometown/Previous School
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Chloe Smith2
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Central Arkansas
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RS
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Jr.
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San Diego, Calif./Our Lady of Peace
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Anna Ferguson2
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Sam Houston State
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MB
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Sr.
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Dallas, Texas/Lake Highlands
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Jessica Weynand2
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Texas State
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OH
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Sr.
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Brenham, Texas/Brenham
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Robyn Smith3
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Central Arkansas
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S
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Sr.
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Lubbock, Texas/Coronado
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Ashley Bailey
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Stephen F. Austin
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MB
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Sr.
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Mesquite, Texas/Mesquite
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Amber Calhoun
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Texas State
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MB
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So.
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Houston, Texas/Second Baptist
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Carli Kolbe
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Sam Houston State
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OH
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So.
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College Station, Texas/A&M Consolidated
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Evaree Franklin
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Central Arkansas
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MB
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Sr.
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Sweeny, Texas/Sweeny
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Adrianne Meengs2
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Lamar
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S
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Sr.
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Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood
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Emma Ridley
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Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
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OH
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Jr.
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Phoenix, Ariz./Tulsa
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Kaylee Hawkins
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Sam Houston State
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L
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Fr.
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Dickinson, Texas/Dickinson
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Tara Frantz
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UT Arlington
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OH
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So.
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Santa Fe, Texas/Santa Fe
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Second Team
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Name
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School
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Pos.
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Cl.
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Hometown/Prev. School
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Cristin Curl
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Central Arkansas
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L
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So.
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Amarillo, Texas/Tascosa
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MC Bottles
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Stephen F. Austin
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MB
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So.
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Rowlett, Texas/Rowlett
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Wendy Krell
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Lamar
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MB
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Fr.
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Plano, Texas/Plano East
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Mo Middleton
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Texas State
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OH
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Jr.
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Glendale, Ariz./New Mexico
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Emily Shearin
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UT Arlington
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MB
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So.
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Dallas, Texas/Woodrow Wilson
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Whitney Walls
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UTSA
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OH
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Fr.
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Arlington, Texas/Martin
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2Two-time First-team selection
3Three-time First-team selection
Honorable Mention: Lauren Holdorff, Lamar; Priscilla Massengale, McNeese State; Amy Whitehead, Nicholls; Yelena Enwere, Northwestern State; Michelle Miller, Sam Houston State; Alex Greer, Southeastern Louisiana; Madison Hanlan, Stephen F. Austin; Bianca Sauls, UT Arlington; Kelsey Jewasko, UTSA; Kendra Rowland, UTSA
Player of the Year - Chloe Smith, Central Arkansas
Libero of the Year - Cristin Curl, Central Arkansas
Setter of the Year - Robyn Smith, Central Arkansas
Freshman of the Year - Wendy Krell, Lamar
Newcomer of the Year - Emma Ridley, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Coach of the Year - Steven McRoberts, Central Arkansas