RALEIGH, NC - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) announced the 2024 All-CIAA preseason volleyball team Wednesday evening before the start of the regular season next week. 

Shaw leads with four selections on the preseason team and is represented by Nayara Pereira, Kamille Patrick, Hailey Hopkins, and Lillian Carlson. Johnson C. Smith is right behind them with three selections, while Fayetteville State has two of their own. 

Patrick, finished the 2023 season with 119 sets played while totaling 266 kills for an average of 2.24 per set. The senior from Conway, SC cashed in 390 points which led the Lady Bears overall while also leading Shaw in service aces with 72. Patrick was a force on the defensive side finishing with 85 total blocks. 

Hopkins made an instant impact during her first year at Shaw collecting 167 kills while appearing in 36 of the 37 matches in 2023. Her .348 attacking percentage placed the senior from Williamsburg, VA in the top three on the team in players who played over 50% of the season. Hopkins also came away with 57 blocks

Carlson was another player who made herself known quickly in her first season in Garnet & White leading Shaw in kills with 312 for an average of 3.0 per set. The junior from near by Cary, NC finished fourth on the squad in service aces with 48 while also hitting the floor for 266 digs which tied second on the team. 

Pereira is new to the program this season but not a stranger to the conference as the earned 2023 post season honors at rival St.Augustine's.  The libero from Araguari, Brazil finished with 491 digs and 25 service aces.

The Lady Bear open their 2024 campaign September 6 as they host the Shaw U Invitational taking on Barton College at 2 PM.