ROCK HILL, S.C. – After earning the program's first-ever South Atlantic Conference Regular Season Championship and the top seed in this week's SAC Tournament, outside hitter Marissa Mitter, middle blocker Rachel Burts, setter Emily Conlin and senior Serena Jackson have earned all-conference accolades, as announced by the conference Wednesday morning.
In addition, Head Coach Todd Hay was tabbed SAC Coach of the Year. In his first season at the helm of the program, Hay led the Trojans to a 26-3 overall record and a 19-1 record in league action as Anderson claimed the regular season title. During the 2017 season, the Trojans ranked second in the league in numerous categories. They finished second in aces per set (1.64), assists per set (13.60), hitting percentage (.248), kills per set (14.12) and team assists (1.292). The Trojans finished out the regular season on a 21-game winning streak, the third longest active winning streak in Division-II Volleyball. The honor marks Hay's first Coach of the Year honor and is also Anderson's first ever Coach of the Year accolade.
Mitter was named First-Team All-South Atlantic Conference for the second straight year after she earned AstroTurf SAC Player of the Weeks four times during the season, while leading the SAC with 375 kills and ranking second in the SAC with 3.29 kills per set. The outside hitter is one of only three players in the in the SAC to have at least 300 kills and 300 digs on the season and ranks in the top-10 in the AU record books in kills.
The Redondo Beach, Calif., native notched a season-high 21 kills versus USC Aiken in early September and came up with a season-best 21 digs against Mars Hill on Oc. 9. Mitter has averaged more than 12 kills and nine digs per match over the last five outings, while posting 13 double-doubles this season and has reached double-figure kills on 22 occasions, including five of the last eight matches.
Burts claimed first-team accolades after capturing second-team recognition a year ago. The Anderson, S.C., native ranks 13th nationally with a .386 hitting percentage and is 11th in the conference with 81 total blocks on the season. She reached double-digit kills in 13 matches, while ranking second on the team, behind only Mitter, with 243 kills on the season.
She ranks among national leaders in both hitting percentage and blocks and posted at least five total blocks on six occasions, including a season-high seven in the regular-season finale at Mars Hill. Burts is 12th in total blocks in the AU record books.
Conlin was named First-Team All-SAC after becoming the first Trojan to earn SAC Freshman of the Year honors a year ago. She captured AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference Specialist of the Week accolades on two occasions this season, while leading the conference in assists per set and ranking third in the league in total assists and service aces per set. The Glendale, Ariz., native posted 16 double-doubles on the season, while reaching the 40+ assist plateau 14 times, including a season-high 58 assists in AU's five-set loss to Augusta in early September.
In less than two full seasons Conlin already ranks sixth in the AU record books for assists in a single season and trails former Trojan standout Meghan Cautero for the fourth spot in career assists.
Jackson started all 30 matches and captured Honorable Mention All-SAC honors following a season that saw the Charlotte, N.C., native knock down 205 kills and post a team-high 84 total blocks. She tallied double-figure kills three times and recorded at least four total blocks on 11 occasions during the campaign and ranks in the AU's top-10 in career blocks.
2017 SAC Volleyball All-Conference
First Team
Katie Bludau, Wingate
Marissa Mitter, Anderson
Anna Holmquist, Wingate
Rebecca Cochran, Queens
Rachel Burts, Anderson
Emily Conlin, Anderson
Sydney Kunz, Queens
Morgan Ballard, Carson-Newman (L)
Second Team
Marnie Steeter, Carson-Newman
Kiera Holland, Lincoln Memorial
Rachel Alles, Wingate
Brooke Redmond, Lenoir-Rhyne
Taylor Henry, Queens
Phoebe Havenaar, Wingate
Cassie Born, Tusculum
Kori Adams, Wingate (L)
Honorable Mention
Serena Jackson, Anderson
Rebecca Butler, Mars Hill
Jessica Raines, Queens
Taylor du Bray, Coker
Lauren Hochstetler, Mars Hill
Shannon Murphy, Tusculum
Sally Anne Johnson, Mars Hill
Melissa Mazur, Tusculum (L)
All-Freshman
Taylor Prall, Lenoir-Rhyne
Anne Abernathy, Wingate
Megan Oldenburger, Carson-Newman
Casey Tarvin, Queens
Sarah Pasour, Mars Hill
Jaycee Jones, Queens (T)
Alicia Kessler, Lincoln Memorial (T)
Player of the Year
Katie Bludau, Wingate
Freshman of the Year
Taylor Prall, Lenoir-Rhyne
Coach of the Year
Todd Hay, Anderson
