Sun Belt Conference Weekly News and Notes (Week 3)
2016 Sun Belt Conference Composite Schedule
2016 Sun Belt Conference Standings
2016 Sun Belt Conference Statistics
2016 Sun Belt Conference Scoreboard
Longley Praised by Sun Belt
For the second time this season, Appalachian State University volleyball’s freshman outside hitter Emma Longley has been tabbed the Sun Belt Conference’s Freshman of the Week. Longley has been on an absolute tear offensively and defensively for the Mountaineers early on this season. Over the weekend, she continued her dominance at the Eagle Challenge. Longley averaged 5.79 kills per set and totaled 81 kills in just 14 sets.
The true freshman broke the program record for kills in a match with 37 against Ball State – a record set in 2007. Longley’s 37 kills broke Brittany Zahn’s record of 36, which stood for nearly eight seasons until last Saturday. Defensively, Longley notched a double-double in each match – reaching double-digit digs each time. She collected a season-high 20 digs in the final match of the weekend against the Cardinals – averaging 3.43 digs per set and totaling 48 digs overall.
Dillard Honored with Defensive Award
With an outstanding 2.40 blocks per set and 24 total blocks for the weekend, Little Rock volleyball's Carolee Dillard was named the Sun Belt Conference's Defensive Player of the Week. The redshirt senior tallied seven solo blocks and 17 assisted blocks in just three matches. Dillard started the weekend on a strong note as she put up 12 total blocks (five solo and seven assisted) in the Trojans' victory at Florida A&M. Dillard's 12 blocks tied her own personal record and were the sixth-most blocks in a match in program history. Against Baylor, Dillard put up four total blocks (one solo and three assisted) while leading the team with nine kills and a .316 hitting percentage.
A-State's Warrington Earns Third Consecutive Honor
Mallory Warrington was named the SBC Setter of the Week for the third straight week to open the 2016 campaign. She dished out 161 assists for a 12.38 per set average to claim the award. She also had 29 digs, including a double-double versus Tulsa, and seven kills.
Warrington moved to second in the nation and first in the SBC with an 12.14 assist per set ratio. She is also third in the nation in total assists with 449.
Bange Named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week
Bange averaged three kills, 2.07 digs, 5.21 assists and 0.71 blocks a set and was named all-tournament at the SpringHill Suites Invitational. The right side/setter hit .420 with 41 kills on 81 swings and just eight errors. She tallied two triple-doubles on the first day of the tourney, and her four triple-doubles this season are tied for the second-most in the country. Bange recorded 16 kills, 11 digs, 23 assists and two blocks against Buffalo and posted 14 kills, 11 digs, 21 assists and four blocks while hitting .522 vs. Wake Forest. She also notched 12 kills, 29 assists, seven digs and four blocks against South Carolina.
Tournament Season Comes to a Close
All Sun Belt teams in action this weekend will enter into their final tournament matches as conference play opens next weekend.
New Year, New Changes
With the addition of Coastal Carolina the Sun Belt now has 12 teams in women’s volleyball and will compete in divisional play for the 2016 season. This is the first time since the 2012 season the Sun Belt will compete in divisional play. Teams will play 16 conference games with the East division comprising of Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, South Alabama and Troy. The West division will comprise of Arkansas State, Little Rock, UL Lafayette, UL Monroe, UT Arlington and Texas State.