RALEIGH, NC –
Lauren Janok was named Setter of the Year and
Jasmine Culp was selected Rookie of the Year as six Shaw players made the 2023 All-CIAA Volleyball Teams announced Wednesday by the conference office.
The league's coaches and sports information directors voted on the CIAA first and second teams and the All-CIAA Rookie Team.
Janok and middle hitter/blocker
Kamille Patrick were first-team selections for the Lady Bears. The second team featured Shaw outside hitters
Noelani Beard and
Lillian Carlson and middle hitter/blocker
Hailey Hopkins. Culp headlined the All-Rookie squad as a libero.
All six players led the Lady Bears (28-5 overall) to the Southern Division title with a perfect 18-0 CIAA mark. The Lady Bears, ranked seventh in the Atlantic Division, are the first team in 12 years to finish the regular season unbeaten. The 28 wins are the most in a season in Shaw recent history.
Janok made her mark as the CIAA's top setter in her first season with the Lady Bears. One of the team's most versatile players, Janok leads the conference in assists per set (9.67) and ranks fifth in service aces per set. The talented setter is tied for second on the team in blocks (48) and ranks fifth in digs per set (2.37).
Culp stepped in as the main libero from day one and more than held her own as a first-year player. She leads all CIAA freshmen in digs per set (4.13).
Patrick had a stellar regular season as she contributed in several ways. She currently ranks fifth in the CIAA in blocks per set and is seventh in points per set (3.45) with a league-leading .366 hitting percentage. One of the nation's best servers, Patrick ranks third in the country and first in the CIAA in service aces per set. She is the main reason why the Lady Bears lead the nation among NCAA Division II teams in the category.
Both Carlson and Beard provided offensive firepower for the Lady Bears in the regular season. Carlson ranks fifth (2.89) in kills per set and sixth in points per set (3.51) in the CIAA, and Beard is eighth in both categories (2.72 and 3.13). A skilled server, Carlson ranks seventh in service aces per set.
One of the league's most efficient attackers, Beard ranks seventh in the CIAA in hitting percentage (.251).
Hopkins provided depth at the net during the regular season. She ranked second in the conference in hitting percentage behind Patrick at .340 and is tied for second on the team in blocks (48).
The All-CIAA Shaw players will be honored of Friday, Nov. 17, at the CIAA Volleyball Awards Ceremony at Bowie State University in Bowie, Md., during CIAA Championship weekend. The Lady Bears face Fayetteville State for the third time this season in one semifinal match on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 2 p.m.
2023 CIAA Volleyball All-Conference & Superlatives
Rookie of the Year : Jasmine Culp, Shaw
Offensive Player of the Year : Madison Jones, St. Augustine's
Defensive Player of the Year : Najlaa Williams, Virginia State
Setter of the Year : Lauren Janok, Shaw
Coach of the Year : Jonathan Paulk, Shaw
First-Team All-CIAA
Libero
Najlaa Williams, Virginia State
Middle Hitter/Blocker
Madison Jones, St. Augustine's
Kamille Patrick, Shaw
Nina Edwards, Bowie State
Outside Hitter
Jannice Lynch, Bluefield State
Casandra Watson, Fayetteville State
Raven Gray, Winston-Salem State
Right Side Hitter
Chiara Vittoni, Fayetteville State
A'Lexus Everett, Fayetteville State
Setter
Kateryna Dashevska, Bluefield State
Lauren Janok, Shaw
Utility
La'Tavia Braynen, St. Augustine's
Second-Team All-CIAA
Libero
Nayara Pereira, St. Augustine's
Middle Hitter/Blocker
Rheign Davis, Winston-Salem State
Hailey Hopkins, Shaw
Imani Stokes, Bluefield State
Outside Hitter
Noelani Beard, Shaw
Allyson Martin, Bluefield State
Lillian Carlson, Shaw
Right Side Hitter
SiAyera Boone, St. Augustine's
Madyson Brinson, Bowie State
Setter
Sydney Moore, St. Augustine's
Brooke Norwood, Winston-Salem State
Utility
Kennedy Hoge, Virginia State
All-CIAA Rookie Team
Jasmine Culp, Shaw
Destinee Davenport Elizabeth City State
Madyson Brinson, Bowie State
Nina Edwards, Bowie State
Madison Hill, Lincoln (Pa.)
Peyton Reese, Virginia State
