Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

ATLANTA, Ga. (August 19, 2021) - Middle blocker Kassandra Fairly of Spring Hill collected her second Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honor alongside with teammate, Taylor Fontenelle, who was selected as Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, announced Thursday by the league office.
 
All votes are submitted by SIAC head volleyball coaches and sports information directors.
 
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Kassandra Fairly, Middle Blocker
Spring Hill College
 
Fairly, a junior middle blocker, was chosen as this years’ Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after maintaining a career .385 hitting percentage averaging 3.25 kills per set and 0.62 blocks per set. In 2019, she led the Badgers in kills (401) and blocks (77). The Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. native has amassed several awards including being a three-time member SIAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team, two-time all-conference first team selection, two-time SHC Female Athlete of the Year, 2018 SIAC Player of Year and SIAC Tournament MVP, 2019 D2CCA All-South Region Second Team, 2019 AVCA All-South Region First Team, and 2019 SIAC Freshman of the Year.

 
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Taylor Fontenelle, Libero/Defensive Specialist
Spring Hill College
 
Fontenelle, a Spanish Fort, Ala. native, has been named this years’ Preseason Defensive Player of the Year after a dynamic first season with the Badgers where she collected 189 digs and led the Badgers in service aces (49). The sophomore libero is also a two-time member SIAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team.
 

Volleyball Preseason Rankings by Division
Eastern Division

1. Albany State
2. Benedict
3. Clark Atlanta
4. Savannah State
5. Fort Valley State
6. Edward Waters*
7. Allen*

 
Western Division

1. Spring Hill
2. Kentucky State
3. Central State
4. LeMoyne-Owen
5. Lane
6. Tuskegee
7. Miles

 
*Allen University and Edward Waters University are first-year provisional members of NCAA Division II and are not eligible for SIAC nor NCAA volleyball post-season competition.
 
 
2021 SIAC Preseason Volleyball Team
First Team

Outside Hitter	Imani Williamson	Savannah State	Senior	Atlanta, GA
Outside Hitter	Jeilynn Brown	Savannah State	Junior	Cleveland, OH
Outside Hitter	Mikayla Boyer	Spring Hill	Sophomore	Covington, LA
Middle Blocker	Kassandra Fairly	Spring Hill	Redshirt Junior	Ft. Walton Beach, FL
Middle Blocker	Jedaiah Daniels	Savannah State	Junior	Kennesaw, GA
Libero	Taylor Fontenelle	Spring Hill	Sophomore	Spanish Fort, AL
Setter	Ashleigh Reeves	Benedict	Senior	Birmingham, AL

 
 
Second Team

Outside Hitter	Allison Weimer	Spring Hill	Senior	Covington, LA
Outside Hitter	Lauryn Terry	Clark Atlanta	Junior	Tulsa, OK
Outside Hitter	Bre’elle Hawkins	Lane	Junior	Riverview, FL
Middle Blocker	Kia Thomas	Clark Atlanta	Senior	Jonesboro, GA
Middle Blocker	Daija Walton	Benedict	Senior	Perris, CA
Libero	Jolesia McClenton	Albany State	Senior	Sanford, FL
Setter	LaPromise Boone	Miles	Senior	Birmingham, AL

 
 
 
About the SIAC
 
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically black colleges and universities with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors eight men's and six women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit www.thesiac.com.