ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Three members of the Tusculum College volleyball team received postseason honors from the South Atlantic Conference, as voted upon by the league's 12 head coaches and released Wednesday.
Sophomore defensive specialist Melissa Mazur was a first-team selection, junior middle blocker Laryssa Welch received honorable mention status and freshman setter Hallie Zumack was voted as a member of the SAC All-Freshman team.
Together, they helped the Pioneers to an overall record of 12-19 and an eighth place league finish with a SAC record of 7-15. The Pioneers qualified for the SAC Volleyball Championship for the eighth time in nine seasons under head coach Michael Robinson.
Mazur appeared in 26 matches for the Pioneers, leading the team and ranking second in the conference with 5.77 digs per set. Mazur, who led the nation in digs per set last season with 6.84, had a streak of 53 consecutive matches with double digits in digs snapped when she was sidelined against Lincoln Memorial on Nov. 1. Mazur had 30 or more digs in five matches, including a season-high 41 in a five-set loss to Lander on Oct. 15. She also ranks third on the team with 69 assists and is tied for third with 22 service aces.
In two seasons, the Chicago, Illinois native has recorded 1,300 digs which are the fifth-most in program history. Mazur is averaging 6.31 digs per set which is the second-highest tally by a Pioneer. Mazur also has 145 assists and 36 service aces in her 54-match career.
Welch appeared in all 31 matches for the Pioneers, leading the team with 273 kills, a .265 hitting percentage and 77 blocks. Welch had 11 matches with 10 kills or more, including five consecutive matches during mid-October. Welch had a season-high 21 kills in a 3-1 win over Augusta, and registered a season-best .680 hitting percentage (18 kills-1 error-25 attacks) in a loss to Lenoir-Rhyne. Welch also had at least one block in 28 of the Pioneers' 31 matches, including a season-best six against Montevallo.
In three seasons with the Pioneers, the New Castle, Indiana native has 641 kills and a .243 hitting percentage, to go along with 37 service aces, 162 blocks and 179 digs. She was an honorable mention All-SAC performer and a member of the SAC All-Freshman team in 2014.
Zumack played in all 31 matches for the Pioneers and shared the setting duties with junior Shannon Murphy. Zumack registered 627 assists in 117 sets (5.36 assists per set) and was second on the squad with 26 service aces. Zumack also ranked fifth on the team with 243 digs, and added 45 kills with a .211 hitting percentage. Zumack reached a season high with 36 assists against Lander, and a total of 18 matches with 21 assists or more. The Independence, Ohio native also had 10 matches with double figures in digs, setting a season high with 15 at Coker. Her season high in aces was four, set in a 3-2 win over Carson-Newman.
Meredith Jones of Queens University of Charlotte was named SAC Player of the Year, with SAC Freshman of the Year honors going to Emily Conlin of Anderson. Jenny Michael of Lincoln Memorial University was recognized by her peers as SAC Coach of the Year.
2016 South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Awards
First Team
Meredith Jones, Queens
Abby Saehler, Wingate
Abby Cash, Lincoln Memorial
Marissa Mitter, Anderson
Samantha Cash, Lincoln Memorial
Logan Hayward, Newberry
Bri Howard, Catawba
Melissa Mazur, Tusculum
Second Team
Oakley Attaway, Wingate
Emily Conlin, Anderson
Emily Steele, Lenoir-Rhyne
Madison Darby-McClure, Newberry
Brooke Redmond, Lenoir-Rhyne
Sydney Kunz, Queens
Rachel Burts, Anderson
Treslyn Ortiz, Wingate
Honorable Mention
Rachell Alles, Wingate
Laryssa Welch, Tusculum
Kiera Holland, Lincoln Memorial
Maggie Marsh, Newberry
Liz Brock, Lincoln Memorial
Rebecca Cochran, Queens
Taylor Lowe, Carson-Newman
Megan Mancini, Queens
SAC All-Freshman
Emily Conlin, Anderson
Rachel Alles, Wingate
Toni-Anne Whitlow, Newberry
Treslyn Ortiz, Wingate
Marnie Streeter, Carson-Newman
Hallie Zumack, Tusculum
SAC Player of the Year: Meredith Jones, Queens
SAC Freshman of the Year: Emily Conlin, Anderson
SAC Coach of the Year: Jenny Michael, Lincoln Memorial