Atlanta, GA—The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announces the 2010 preseason Volleyball All-Conference team as selected by the Volleyball Coaches Association.
The 2010 preseason team features 10 returning players from the 2009 All-SIAC team including all seven first team selections, six of which are two-time All-SIAC selections. This year’s very talented team is led by junior Jamila McKinnis of Stillman College and senior Melinda Bastian of Benedict College.
McKinnis, a 5-11 outside hitter/setter, is a two-time All-SIAC selection and the reigning SIAC most valuable player after leading the conference with a .368 hitting percentage. In 2009, the Mobile, AL native was also among the conference leaders in kills and average kills per set with 282 and 2.39, respectively.
Bastian, also a two-time All-SIAC selection, led the SIAC in average kills per set with 4.71 and had a hitting percentage of .339, second highest in the conference. In 2009, the 5-10 outside hitter/middle blocker from Nassau, Bahamas was named SIAC Offensive player of the year for the second straight year.
Kentucky State leads the way three first-team selections, including outside hitter Mercedes Parker, libero Nikki Douglas, and setter Brittany Stewart. In 2009, this trio helped the Thorobrettes lead the SIAC in hitting percentage (.256), opponent hitting percentage (.110), digs (1916), and digs per set (14.97),finishing atop the western division during the regular season. All three players are also two-time All-SIAC selections.
Rounding out the first team selections are two senior outside hitters, Krysta McGowan of Clark Atlanta and Deisha Rivers of Claflin. McGowan represents another two-time All-SIAC selection on the 2010 preseason team while Rivers helped lead the Lady Panthers to a record of 15-11 (12-9 in the SIAC).
Returning players on the second team include sophomore middle blocker Victoria Clayton of Paine along with Albany State seniors Latrice Lewis (outside hitter) and Priscila Sena (setter), who will be looking to lead the Golden Rams their 10th straight conference title.
2010 Preseason Volleyball All-Conference Team
1st Team Institution Class
Krysta McGowan Clark Atlanta University Senior
Deisha Rivers Claflin University Senior
Melinda Bastian Benedict College Senior
Jamila McKinnis Stillman College Junior
Mercedes Parker Kentucky State University Junior
Libero
Nikki Douglas Kentucky State University Senior
Setter
Brittany Stewart Kentucky State University Junior
2nd Team Institution Class
Victoria Clayton Paine College Sophomore
Toi Haynes-Shelman Claflin University Senior
Latrice Lewis Albany State University Senior
Anjelica Nixon Stillman College Senior
DeNae Shelton Kentucky State University Senior
Libero
Fernisha McMillan Paine College Junior
Setter
Pricilla Sena Albany State Senior