JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Outside hitter Paige Pridgeon was named the 2009 Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year while junior middle blocker Kaley Read earned a spot on the All-Conference Second Team. Pridgeon, along with libero Nicole Baran, were named to the All-Freshman team as announced on Tuesday by the conference office.
Pridgeon averaged 3.12 kills per set, was second on the team in kills, and was the highest ranked freshman in the conference, eighth overall. She led the league in aces, with 50 on the season. Pridgeon finished seventh in the conference in points per set, averaging 3.70. On the defensive side, Pridgeon tallied 2.63 digs per set.
“Paige has been an asset to our team this season,” head coach Kevin Campbell said. “She is competitive and very talented. I am very proud of her play this season and I’m glad the conference has recognized her effort.”
Read earned her second All-Conference Second Team honor after leading the team and finishing second in the conference in kills with 443, 3.75 per set. She moved into eight place on UNF’s all-time kills leader list. Read also led the team in blocks with 87. She led the team and finished second in the A-Sun in points per set with 4.40 per set.
“Kaley is a very talented athlete,” Campbell said. “The conference has great respect for her abilities and the team is honored by having an all-conference selection.”
Baran led UNF with 2.84 digs per set, tallying 332 on the season. She had a serve receive percentage of .953 with just 26 reception errors. Baran also had a service percentage of .915, including 14 aces this season.
“Nicole is the heart of our program,“ said Campbell. “She had a great impact on our play and is a big part of who we will become as a team in years to come. I am very proud to be Nicole’s coach and I am happy she received this honor.”
Atlantic Sun All-Conference
First Team
Maggie Johnson – Outside Hitter, Belmont
Alex Kelly – Middle Hitter, Lipscomb
Stefine “Jake” Pease – Setter, Lipscomb
Jelena Simic – Outside Hitter, Florida Gulf Coast
Brooke Singleton – Outside Hitter, Jacksonville
Shelley Walroth – Libero, Jacksonville
Ashley Weers – Middle Blocker, Campbell
Second Team
Megan Clements – Libero, Belmont
Sabrita Gulley – Outside Hitter, Kennesaw State
Meghan Hinemeyer – Outside Hitter, Lipscomb
Nicki Kent – Middle Blocker, Jacksonville
Chandra Lefever – Setter, Florida Gulf Coast
Kaley Read – Middle Blocker, North Florida
Channing Salava – Setter, Belmont
Player of the Year
Alex Kelly – Middle Hitter, Lipscomb
Defensive Player of the Year
Shelly Walroth - Libero, Jacksonville
All-Freshman Team
Nicole Baran – Libero, North Florida
Kelli Carneal – Setter, Stetson
Kaycee Green – Outside Hitter, Lipscomb
Alison Loeppky – Outside Hitter, Jacksonville
Paige Pridgeon – Outside Hitter, North Florida
Jordan Reaves – Outside Hitter, Campbell
Mindy Quimby – Outside Hitter, USC Upstate
Emily Sanders – Setter, USC Upstate
* A tie in the voting resulted in an eight member All-Freshman team.
Freshman of the Year
Paige Pridgeon – Outside Hitter, North Florida
Coach of the Year
Brandon Rosenthal, Lipscomb