ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Tusculum University women's volleyball team saw four of its members recognized by the South Atlantic Conference on Tuesday (Nov. 14). Emiah Burrowes was tabbed to the first team for the third consecutive season, joined by Madison Adkins and Aly Freeland on the third team. Caley Sosnowski was selected to the All-Freshman team.
For the third-straight season, the Pioneers find two on the third team. Sosnowski marks head coach Danielle Marante's fifth freshman honoree in her tenure.
Burrowes, a native of Wesley Chapel, North Carolina, led the Pioneers with 293 kills in the regular season, fifth-most across the SAC. The graduate student's kills per set rate of 3.53 was the third-highest in the league. The outside hitter also totaled the third-most digs for TU with 207. On the season, Burrowes reached double digits in kills 18 times and digs eight times, notching six double-doubles. In the Tusculum record book, Burrowes ranks third in career kills per set, third in attempts per set, fourth in kills, fourth in attempts, and 11th in hitting percentage.
Adkins, a junior from Olive Hill, Kentucky, has been the primary setter for the Pioneers this season, recording 698 assists on an 8.73 per set rate. Both totals are within the top-five in the league. Adkins is second on the team with 37 service aces, seventh-most in the SAC. She is also fourth on the team with 175 digs and 41 total blocks. On the season, Adkins' performance in the five-setter at Mars Hill established three new career-highs: kills (9), assists, (47), and digs (20). She tallied at least 30 assists in 14 outings in 2023. Adkins is on her way to becoming the 13th setter in program history to reach 1,000 career assists.
Freeland, a senior from Tallahassee, Florida, finished with the second-most kills for Tusculum with 226. The outside hitter landed a conference-leading 45 service aces to be named the statistical champion. Freeland's aces per set rate of 0.54 was good for third in the SAC. Defensively, she collected 278 digs on a 3.35 per frame average, both second on the Pioneer squad. On the season, Freeland has reached double figure kills in nine contests and digs 14 times. She upped her career highs to 23 kills and five service aces.
Sosnowski, a freshman from Oxford, Fla., led the Pioneers with 320 digs in her inaugural campaign, a 4.05 per set average. The libero also added two kills, 49 assists, and 23 aces to aid Tusculum in its third-place finish. During the season, Sosnowski reached double-digit digs in 17 matches, including a span of seven-straight from September 9 to October 3. She had her career best contest in the five-set win over the Lions with 26 digs.
As a team, Tusculum was the team statistical champion in two categories: opponent hitting percentage (.125) and service aces per set (2.17).
Tusculum travels to the neutral championship site in Rock Hill, South Carolina for Wednesday (Nov. 15) night's matchup against second-seeded Anderson. First serve in the second semifinal at the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.
2023 SAC Volleyball All-Conference
First Team
Emmaleigh Allen, Lenoir-Rhyne
Emiah Burrowes, Tusculum
Jaelyn Grimm, Anderson
Laela Jimenez, Mars Hill (L)
Jenna Long, Anderson
Kathy Peter, Lenoir-Rhyne
Julia Wheeler, Carson-Newman
Maggie Young, Wingate
Second Team
Brantley Chipley, Anderson
Katilyn Grant, Mars Hill
Riley Hill, Catawba (L)
Emily Johnson, Wingate
Sadie Kluner, Anderson
Kristen Moehring, Lincoln Memorial
Amber Rowoldt, Wingate
Gabby Saye, Wingate
Third Team
Madison Adkins, Tusculum
Aly Freeland, Tusculum
Sydney Karjala, Lenoir-Rhyne
Ketura Margaret, Lincoln Memorial
Maggie Mullen, Wingate (L)
Tatum Riddle, Limestone
Rylie Sargent, Anderson
Tabitha Wheeler, Anderson
All-Freshman
Katilyn Grant, Mars Hill
Riley Hill, Catawba
Sydney Karjala, Lenoir-Rhyne
Sydney Morland, Wingate
Caley Sosnowski, Tusculum
Maya Van Heyst, Wingate
Player of the Year
Maggie Young, Wingate
Freshman of the Year
Katilyn Grant, Mars Hill
Coach of the Year
Todd Hay, Anderson
Statistical Champions
Hitting Percentage: Maggie Young, Wingate (.438)
Kills Per Set: Julia Wheeler, Carson-Newman (3.77)
Assists Per Set: Jenna Long, Anderson (11.27)
Blocks Per Set: Cassidy Farley, UVA Wise (1.21)
Service Aces: Aly Freeland, Tusculum (45)
Digs Per Set: Laela Jimenez, Mars Hill (5.78)
Team Hitting Percentage: Wingate (.287)
Team Assists Per Set: Wingate (13.20)
Team Kills Per Set: Anderson (14.25)
Team Winning Percentage: Wingate (.926)
Team Opponent Hitting Percentage: Tusculum (.125)
Team Blocks Per Set: Wingate (2.29)
Team Service Aces Per Set: Tusculum (2.17)
Team Digs Per Set: Mars Hill (18.93)
