Texas A&M junior outside hitter Hollann Hans became the first Aggie to be named AVCA South Region Player of the Year when the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced its 2018 All-Region teams today. A&M teammate and sophomore setter Camille Conner joins Hans on the 14-member All-South Region Team.
Hans, who broke or tied more than 20 A&M match, single season and career records during the year, currently ranks in the top 10 in the nation in total aces (64), aces per set (0.53), total points (624) and points per set (5.20). She also ranks 11th in the country in total kills (528) and 17th in kills per set (4.40). Her 64 total aces obliterated A&M’s longest standing all-time season record of 59 aces, which had stood since 1983. Her aces per set also is an all-time school record, while her kills and points totals and per set averages are all program records in the 25-point rally scoring era, which began in 2008.
Hans, who in 2016 became only the third player in A&M history to garner AVCA Region Freshman on of the Year honors, took team-high honors in points in 25 matches and in kills in 24 contests in 2018. She recorded double-figure kills in 27 of 29 matches played, tallying 20 or more kills 15 times. The six-rotation player, who was second on the team with 2.60 digs per set for the full season and 2.78 digs per set in SEC matches, also reached double-digit digs in 17 matches, and she recorded the first 20-20 performance of her career with 22 kills and a career-high 21 digs against Tennessee.
Hans, who currently leads the SEC with 5.20 points per set and 16 double-doubles for the full season—Florida and Kentucky are still competing in the NCAA Tournament—was named to the All-SEC Team and was a three-time SEC Offensive Player of the Week. She also was tabbed SEC Player of the Week during the season, and she led the SEC with 5.30 points and 0.61 aces per set as well as 12 double-doubles in conference matches only.
Conner, from Katy, Texas, directed the Aggies’ offense and ranks third in the SEC with 10.27 assists per set. The only A&M player to start every match and appear in every set each of the last two seasons, Conner dished out 1,263 assists this year to break the A&M record for assists in a season in the 25-point rally scoring era.
The lefty, who posted double-figure kills four times, remains the only player in the SEC to record a triple-double (46 assists, 13 kills and 18 digs vs. LSU on Sept. 30) this season, and she was one dig shy of a triple-double against both Georgia and Ole Miss. Conner tied for second in the SEC with nine double-doubles in conference play, and she is fifth in the SEC with 12 doubles-doubles in all matches.
Under the direction of first-year head coach Laura “Bird” Kuhn, Hans and Conner led Texas A&M to a 17-13 record, including a 10-8, fifth-place finish in SEC play.
All-region members will now be considered for AVCA All-America honors, which will be announced December 12.
The following is the complete 2018 AVCA All- South Region Team:
South Region
Name
School
Pos.
Year
Rachel Anderson***
Western Kentucky
MB
Sr.
Taylor Bannister**
LSU
RS
So.
Margherita Bianchin
FIU
OH
Sr.
Lexi Broadwater
Kennesaw State
S
Jr.
Camille Conner
Texas A&M
S
So.
Yumi Garcia**
UNC Charlotte
L
Jr.
Hollann Hans
Texas A&M
OH
Jr.
Sigourney Kame
Florida Atlantic
OH
Jr.
Ivone Martinez
Florida Atlantic
S
Sr.
Massiel Matos
Florida Atlantic
OH
Jr.
Carlyle Nusbaum***
Lipscomb
OH
Sr.
Anna Stevenson
Auburn
MB
So.
Emily Stroup**
Ole Miss
OH
Jr.
Okiana Valle
Arkansas
L
Sr.
Honorable Mention
Name
School
Pos.
Year
Quincey Gary
Alabama
L
Sr.
Hailey Dirrigl
Arkansas
OH
So.
Jocelyn Stoner
UNC Charlotte
MB
Jr.
Player of the Year: Hollann Hans, Texas A&M, OH
Freshman of the Year: Tyra Galloway, UNC Charlotte, MB
Coach of the Year: Jeni Jones Chatman, Central Arkansas
* Denotes total number of years selected to AVCA Division I All-Region Team
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