SALEM, N.C. - The GSAC announced the volleyball All-Conference awards winners at a banquet on Salem's campus Friday night and the Spirits' Michelle Morgan took the top prize of Player of the Year. Shelli Sherman of Agnes Scott earned Libero of the Year, Malae Fiaseu of Wesleyan claimed Newcomer of the Year and Salem's Dana Wall collected Coach of the Year.
Michelle Morgan, a senior middle blocker from Chattanooga, Tenn., finished the season in first place in Kills and Kills per set in the GSAC en route to claiming Player of the Year honors. Her hitting percentage ranks in second place at .231 overall and an even better .308 in conference play. A well rounded player, Morgan also compiled 22 services aces and 91 digs on the season. She was the team captain for the Salem squad in 2013.
Shelli Sherman, a junior Libero from Kennesaw, Ga., enjoyed an outstanding 2013 campaign that culiminates with the Libero of the Year honor. Her stats reflect her overall court diversity and strengths as a complete Libero. In league play, Sherman is highly ranked as a Libero, server, in assists per set and kills per set. Sherman ranks 2nd overall in digs per set (4.32) and is also 2nd overall in total number of digs (350). Sherman ranked 13th overall in service aces per set (.31) and 13th overall in assists per set (.32) to punctuate her outstanding season.
Malae Fiaseu, a freshman outside hitter from Waipahu, Hawaii, enjoyed a breakout freshman campaign for the Wolves in which she ranked inside the top 10 in a myriad of league statistical categories. Fiaseu ranked 7th in kills per set (1.78), 6th in digs per set (3.22) and 5th in service aces. Additionally, Fiaseu tallied 2.4 points per set as only a freshman, ranking her seventh in the GSAC in that premiere category to cement her Newcomer of the Year status.
Dana Wall took over the Salem volleyball program in 2012 and immediately paid dividends for the Spirits, guiding Salem to the 2012 GSAC Championship and a berth to the NCAA's. She has followed that up by guiding Salem to their first GSAC regular season title on the strength of a 3-1 conference record. Wall came to Salem with over 3 decades of experience as a player, instructor, and coach. She is currently the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) North Carolina State Chair and Director, and will be a delegate at this years AAU National Convention.
2013 GSAC Volleyball All-Conference Team
Lauren Aikens of Agnes Scott
Morgan Bender of Agnes Scott
Shelli Sherman of Agnes Scott
Emma Cole of Finlandia
Shannon Brown of Maine, Presque-Isle
Nina Chandrahsena of Mills
Destiny Mann of Pine Manor
Zy Henderson of Salem
Chelsea Jones of Salem
Michelle Morgan of Salem
Roslyn Nixon of Salem
Keesha Johnson of Trinity Washington
Malae Fiaseu of Wesleyan
Chermaine Johnson of Wesleyan
2013 GSAC Volleyball All-Freshman Team
Kayleigh McCrary of Agnes Scott
Katelyn Anderson of Finlandia
Abby Jewett of Maine, Presque-Isle
Olivia Newbern of Salem
Taylor Rhodes of Salem
Malae Fiaseu of Wesleyan
Erica Franklin of Wesleyan
Great South All-Sportsmanship Team-Amber Bass-Salem