The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff volleyball punctuated the 2018 season with an overall mark of 8-21 and a league mark of 6-12 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, finishing ninth in the conference standings and missing the post season by one game.
The replacement of former head coach
Dustin Sahlmann for head coach
Chelsey Lucas will introduce a new style of coaching and play for the Lady Lions as they head into the 2019 season. Lucas served as the head coach at Alcorn State and looking forward to an exciting upcoming year.
UAPB only returned two starters in 2018, with junior outside hitter
Kendalle Howard and senior setter
Britney Sahlmann leading the core of young players. Other returners to the team were
Cheyenne Odgers,
Jenna Wuzinski,
Kaitlyn Hapke,
Emily McCook, Kaylin Brown, and newcomers
Terin Nalls,
Charm Henderson, Kennedy Mcruffin, and
Haley Gomez.
In 2018, Howard led the Lady Lions being selected First Team All-Conference at the outside hitter position. Howard led the conference in points with 303 and averaged 3.40 per game. Howard led the team in kills with 264, had a game-high of 21 kills in a win over Mississippi Valley St., and led the conference in kills per set at 2.97.
Sahlmann, who was selected Second Team All-Conference at the setter position, finished third in the conference in assists per set with 8.15 and fourth overall in the conference in total assists with 807. She's also the school record holder for UAPB in career assist with 2,039.
Freshman
Haley Gomez hit .255 for the Lady Lions in three matches earlier in the season, posting 29 kills, five service aces and five total blocks. Gomez posted a career effort in UAPB's win over Prairie View with 15 kills and 15 outings, both represent collegiate bests for a freshman. Gomez was second on the team with a total of 245 kills for the season, averaged 2.97 per game.
Volleyball 9th
Kendalle Howard - (Outside Hitter) First Team All-SWAC
Britney Sahlmann - (Setter) Second Team All-SWAC
Haley Gomez- Newcomer of the week (10/11/2018) (10/24/2018)
#UAPBLionsArecoming
