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#UAPBVolleyball Captures Several SWAC Awards

3/25/2021 4:33:00 PM

Pine Bluff, Ark. - The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff sophomore Zyonn Smith and junior Haley Gomez claimed two of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) individual awards and headlined the All-SWAC team announced Thursday.

The awards are based on the votes of the league's 10 head coaches and SIDs.

Smith was named Player of the Year, and first-team all-conference played a major part in turning UAPB's Volleyball program around. Smith leads the conference in four categories. She ranks first in the conference in total kills with 138 kills per set, averaging 3.7, ranks first in total points with 149.5, and second in points per set, averaging 4.0. Smith had a career-high 20 kills against Jackson State this season.

Gomez was named Blocker of the Year and first-team all-conference, and was named SWAC Player of the Week twice this season for her leadership and protection around the net. She was a key contributor in helping the Lady Lions hold the top spot in blocks per set as a team, averaging 2.2. Individually Gomez ranks first in the conference with 51 blocks and leads the conference in blocks per set, averaging 1.4 per set, and ranks fourth in the conference in points per set, averaging 3.8. She had a career-high eight blocks this season against Texas Southern.

Sophomore Nikole Akamine was named Setter's second-team All-Conference for UAPB. Akamine helped the Lady Lions sit amongst the top in the conference in assist per set, averaging 11.52. Akamine has a total of 170 assists and ranks second in the conference in assists per set, averaging 5.48 per set and second in the conference in aces per set, averaging 0.57 per set. Akamine had a career-high 33 assists against Southern U.

The complete listing of all-conference selections and individual awards winners can be found below.

Player of the Year
Zyonn Smith- Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Blocker of the Year
Haley Gomez- Arkansas-Pine Bluff

First-Team Outside/Right Side Hitter: Zyonn Smith- Arkansas-Pine Bluff

First-Team Middle Hitter/Blocker: Haley Gomez- Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Second-Team/Setter: Nikole Akamine- Arkansas-Pine Bluff

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