ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Tusculum University's Melissa Mazur and Carli Pigza earned seasonal honors with the announcement of the 2018 South Atlantic Conference volleyball awards.
Mazur was named to the All-SAC honorable mention team while Pigza garnered SAC All-Freshman recognition.
Mazur, a senior libero from Chicago, Illinois, earns her fourth All-Conference nod of her career. Mazur is averaging 6.39 digs per set which are ranked third in the league and eighth nationally. Her 620 digs this season are the sixth-most in program history as she accounted for double-digit digs in 25 of 26 matches this year including seven with at least 30 digs. She posted a career-high 46 digs against Catawba on Oct. 27, 2018, which ranks as the third-most in a five-set match in TU history.
Mazur's 2,485 career digs are the second-most in school history and ranked fourth nationally amongst active NCAA II student-athletes. Her 6.17 career digs per set average is also second in Tusculum history and third amongst active DII players. She earned All-American honors in 2015 when she led all NCAA divisions with her 6.84 digs per set average. Mazur joins former All-American libero Caitlyn Dean as the only four-time All-SAC performers in the history of Tusculum volleyball.
Pigza, a freshman from Fort Mill, South Carolina, played in 25 matches where she averaged 1.71 kills per set and posted a .211 hitting percentage. She led the Pioneers averaging 0.90 blocks per set which is ranked eighth in the league and tops amongst SAC freshmen. Her blocking average is also second in the region and 18th nationally amongst rookies.
She finished the season with 83 total blocks and recorded a block in all 25 matches played.
The Pioneers (6-20) finished 10th in the South Atlantic Conference standings.
2018 All-South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Team
First Team
Emily Conlin, Anderson
Rachel Alles, Wingate
Angelica Arroyo, Lenoir-Rhyne
Phoebe Havenaar, Wingate
Casey Tarvin, Queens
Sally Anne Johnson, Mars Hill
Hailee Wilhelm, Anderson
Morgan Ballard, Carson-Newman (L)
Second Team
Anna Holmquist, Wingate
Erica Whiteaker, Lincoln Memorial (L)
Rylee Storms, Lincoln Memorial
Kori Adams, Wingate (L)
Jayln Knight, Anderson
Hannah Givens, Wingate
Megan Oldenburger, Carson-Newman
Tone Gill, Lincoln Memorial
Honorable Mention
Taylor du Bray, Coker
Zoe Dinkins, Newberry
Taylor Prall, Lenoir-Rhyne
Elizabeth Kaeser, Mars Hill
Regan Duty, Anderson
Melissa Mazur, Tusculum (L)
Logan Witt, Queens
Jaclyn Denny, Lenoir-Rhyne
SAC All-Freshmen Team
Lana Strejcek, Coker
Emily Walter, Lincoln Memorial
Helen Hamilton, Lenoir-Rhyne
Sarah Goddard, Mars Hill
Liliana Kinder, Anderson
Carli Pigza, Tusculum
SAC Player of the Year: Rachel Alles, Wingate
SAC Freshman of the Year: Lana Strejcek, Coker
SAC Coach of the Year: Shelton Collier, Wingate