GSC Announces 2019 Volleyball All-Conference Awards
2019 VOLLEYBALL ALL-GSC TEAMS
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Gulf South Conference has announced the 2019 volleyball all-conference awards, as voted on by the league’s coaches.
Jordyn Poppen of West Florida has been named the GSC Player of the Year. For the specialist awards, Union’s
Abbie Rahn was named GSC Libero of the Year, and West Georgia’s
Madi Fleming was named the GSC Setter of the Year. West Georgia’s
Tierra White was named GSC Freshman of the Year, and Union’s Darrin McClure has been named GSC Coach of the Year.
Poppen has been selected to her third straight All-GSC First Team, which makes her the 22
nd player in GSC history to accomplish that feat. The senior outside hitter had 404 kills, which averaged out to 3.39 kills per set. This was good enough to have Poppen ranked fourth in the conference in both categories. She was also fourth in the GSC with 3.85 points per set. Additionally, Poppen chipped in defensively for the Argonauts, racking up 408 digs. She was a key part of West Florida going undefeated in conference play.
Rahn, a senior libero, was integral to Union’s ascendance in the GSC. The defensive cog is second in the conference with 602 digs, and she is third in the GSC with 5.14 digs per set. She is also tied for the team lead with 121 sets played. This is Rahn’s first all-conference selection.
Fleming, a senior setter, leads the GSC in both assists (1110) and assists per set (10.28). She is a major factor in West Georgia ranking second in the conference with a .214 hitting percentage. Her assist numbers have increased in every season that she’s played, and that has culminated in her getting her first all-conference selection.
White, a freshman middle blocker, is ranked high in multiple conference leader categories. She is ranked first in hitting percentage (.390), second in kills per set (3.61), sixth in blocks per set (1.07), and second in points per set (4.35). In her first season, UWG is making its first GSC Volleyball Championship appearance since 2013. White is also a First Team All-GSC honoree.
McClure’s fifth season at the helm of the Lady Bulldogs has arguably been his best. He led Union to its first 20-win season since 2010. Compared to just a season ago, McClure improved Union’s overall record by 13 wins and GSC record by nine wins. The Lady Bulldogs led the league with four all-conference selections and will be making their first ever appearance in the GSC Volleyball Championship, where they will receive a bye into the second round.
The entire list of all-conference honorees can be found in the link at the top of the story.