ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Emiah Burrowes, Elise Carmichael, and Gabby Gray were honored with regular season awards from the South Atlantic Conference, as announced by the league this morning. Burrowes earned the conference's Freshman of the Year, along with a second team accolade, and a spot on the All-Freshman Team. Carmichael joined Burrowes on the rookie squad, while Gray collected an Honorable Mention nod.
Burrowes, a Wesley Chapel, N.C. outside hitter, highlighted Tusculum's all-conference accolades after having a remarkable first year in Greeneville. Earning the third SAC Freshman of the Year honor in program history, Burrowes led the Pioneers with 332 kills on a 3.53 per set rate. She also totaled 12 assists, 14 service aces, 217 digs, and 34 total blocks (five solo, 29 assists). Burrowes finished the year with five double-doubles, 20 double-digit kill outing, seven games with double-figures in digs, and played in every match but two. Her game highs include: 22 kills (twice), 18 digs, three service aces (twice), four block assists (twice, including in her debut), and .526 hitting percentage.
Burrowes also collected All-Freshman Team and second team laurels. She is the 16th player in women's volleyball history to find her name on the silver list. This year marks the fourth time in Tusculum program records that multiple Pioneers have been named to the SAC All-Freshman Team and the only institution to do so this season.
Carmichael, the Avon, Ind. setter, joined her teammate on the rookie lineup, becoming the 14th and 15th athletes in women's volleyball history to find themselves on the ballot. As the lone setter on the All-Freshman Team, she totaled five kills, a team-high 659 assists on a 6.28 per set average, a team-leading 47 aces, and 159 digs, while playing in every match. Her game high marks include: two kills, 37 assists, five service aces, and 11 digs to earn her first career double-double.
Gray rounds out the Tusculum accolades with an honorable mention selection. The pick is the eighth mention in program history and the fifth player to be listed. The junior outside hitter from Lafayette, Ga. compiled 306 kills on a 2.89 per set percentage, 15 assists, 22 aces, 342 digs, and 36 total blocks (five solo, 31 assists). Gray played in every set but one in 2019, recording three 20+ dig matches, 12 double-doubles, 14 matches with double-figure kills, and 18 times with double-digit digs. Her game highs this season are comprised of tying her career-high 23 kills twice, three assists, three service aces, a hitting percentage of .571, three total blocks in four matches, and a career mark of 23 digs.
Tusculum has qualified for its first SAC Tournament in two seasons and secured a winning season for the first time since 2014 in Danielle Marante's inaugural season at the helm of the Pioneer program.
2019 SAC Volleyball All-Conference
FIRST TEAM
Emily Conlin, Anderson
Sophie Schaff, Wingate
Casey Tarvin, Queens
Rachel Alles, Wingate
Taylor Prall, Lenoir-Rhyne
Treslyn Ortiz, Wingate (L)
Marnie Streeter, Carson-Newman
Lynnlee Mather, Wingate
SECOND TEAM
Sally Anne Johnson, Mars Hill
Hailee Wilhelm, Anderson
Erin Edwards, Carson-Newman
Logan Witt, Queens
Morgan Ballard, Carson-Newman (L)
Mallory Swarts, Queens
Lindsey Nartker, Lincoln Memorial
Emiah Burrowes, Tusculum
HONORABLE MENTION
Ully Martins, Mars Hill (L)
Gabby Gray, Tusculum
Sarah Goddard, Mars Hill
Maya Learmonth, Anderson
Jaycee Jones, Queens
Regan Duty, Anderson
Noelle Knutsen, Anderson
Kylie Morgan, Catawba
ALL-FRESHMAN
Emiah Burrowes, Tusculum
Lindsay McCurley, Anderson
Cate Hosenfeld, Lincoln Memorial
Maggie Young, Wingate
Anna McLain, Queens
Elise Carmichael, Tusculum
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Emily Conlin, Anderson
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Emiah Burrowes, Tusculum
COACH OF THE YEAR
Hannah Long, Queens
STATISTICAL CHAMPIONS
Hitting Percentage: Lynnlee Mather, Wingate (.382)
Kills Per Set: Taylor Prall, Lenoir-Rhyne (3.87)
Assists Per Set: Emily Conlin, Anderson (10.54)
Blocks Per Set: Katie Parnell, Carson-Newman (1.32)
Service Aces: Treslyn Ortiz, Wingate (46)
Digs Per Set: Ully Martins, Mars Hill (5.83)
Team Hitting Percentage: Wingate (.242)
Team Assists Per Set: Wingate (13.05)
Team Kills Per Set: Wingate (14.09)
Team Winning Percentage: Wingate (.966)
Team Opponent Hitting Percentage: Wingate (.081)
Team Blocks Per Set: Carson-Newman (2.58)
Team Service Aces Per Set: Wingate (2.31)
Team Digs Per Set: Mars Hill (21.22)