Special to GC
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2014 SEC Champion Florida volleyball team landed five Gators on the 2014 All-SEC team and boasts the SEC Player of the Year in sophomore right side Alex Holston, SEC Freshman of the Year in middle Rhamat Alhassan, the SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year in senior libero Holly Pole and the SEC Coach of the Year in Mary Wise.
Alhassan, Holston, junior middle Simone Antwi, junior setter Mackenzie Dagostino and junior outside hitter Gabby Mallette all represent the Orange and Blue on the 18-member All-SEC Team, while Alhassan was also named to the seven-player All-Freshman Team. For the second straight year Holston picked up All-SEC honors, while Alhassan, Antwi, Dagostino and Mallette earned their first league recognition as Gators.
After winning the program’s 21st SEC title in the last 24 years outright last week, the No. 6 Gators are an undefeated 17-0 in conference play heading into Wednesday’s conference finale on Senior Night against South Carolina. With a win, Florida would chalk up its 13th undefeated SEC season in school history. UF is 23-3 overall this year and will embark on its 24th straight NCAA Tournament run next week.
The Gators, who rank second in the NCAA in hitting efficiency (.317), are riding an 18-match win streak, fourth-longest in the country. Florida ranks first through SEC play in hitting efficiency (.346), opponent hitting efficiency (.133), blocks (2.46/s) and service aces (1.77/s), while checking in second in assists (13.30/s) and kills (14.55/s).
Florida’s five honorees are the most of any league team and the Gators had at least four players named to the All-SEC squad for the 23rd straight season. Holston is UF’s 12th SEC Player of the Year and Alhassan is the Gators’ fifth Freshman of the Year. Pole is the third Florida player to ever garner SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year honors and Wise, who became the only active female DI head coach to eclipse 800 career wins in September, picked up her 14th SEC Coach of the Year honor.
SEC PLAYER OF THE YEAR ALEX HOLSTON | ALL-SEC TEAM
* Florida’s 12th SEC Player of the Year (last Chloe Mann in 2012)
* Has led Florida in kills in 16 matches this season (3.59/s) and points in 15 contests (4.24/s)
* No. 4 in SEC play in kills/s (3.77) and points (4.47/s), No. 10 and top SEC pin hitter in hitting efficiency (.370), 7th in service aces (0.29) through conference play
* Had first career double-double at Georgia (12K, 11D)
* Three-time SEC Offensive Player of the Week
SEC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR RHAMAT ALHASSAN | ALL-SEC TEAM, ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
* Florida’s fifth SEC Freshman of the Year (last Živa Recek in 2012)
* Led UF in blocks in 24 of 26 matches, posted one double-double in 2014
* No. 2 in NCAA in hitting efficiency (.462), 35th in country in blocks (1.30/s)
* No. 2 in SEC play in hitting efficiency (.435) and blocks (1.27/s)
* Five-time SEC Offensive/Freshman Player of the Week
* Sept. 16 AVCA Division I National Player of the Week
* Featured in Nov. 10 Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd
SEC CO-SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR HOLLY POLE
* Florida’s third SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year (last Kristy Jaeckel in 2011)
* 3.5 GPA as a double-major in Accounting and Sport Management
* Third student at the University of Florida in 20 years to be approved for a double major in the Accounting Department
* 2011-13 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
* Two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Week
* Ranks second in the league through SEC play in aces per set (0.39) and 10th in digs (3.54/s)
SIMONE ANTWI | ALL-SEC TEAM
* First All-SEC honor as a Gator
* Ranks second for the Gators and fourth in the SEC through league play in hitting efficiency (.401)
* Ranks 32nd in NCAA in hitting efficiency (.382)
* Second for UF in blocks in SEC action (0.82/s)
* Notched a career-high 16 kills against Ole Miss as UF claimed the SEC outright against the Rebels
MACKENZIE DAGOSTINO | ALL-SEC TEAM
* First All-SEC honor as a Gator
* Ranks No. 11 in NCAA in aces per set (0.47/s), No. 18 in assists (11.29/s) and No. 20 in overall aces (43)
* Leads the SEC in conference play in aces (0.48/s) and ranks second in assists (11.43/s)
* Three double-doubles this season, last against Ole Miss as UF claimed SEC outright
* Reigning SEC Player of the Week
GABBY MALLETTE | ALL-SEC TEAM
* First All-SEC honor as a Gator
* Ranks third for Florida and 11th in the league through SEC play with her .351 hitting efficiency
* Has scored the third-most points per set for the Gators in conference play (2.83/s)
* Had a season-high 13 kills and four blocks at Arkansas Sunday and put up a career-best 16.0 points against the Razorbacks in Fayetteville
MARY WISE | SEC COACH OF THE YEAR
* 14th SEC Coach of the Year honor (1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2014)
* Has led the Gators to 21 of the last 24 SEC Championships, seven Final Fours and 24 consecutive NCAA Tournament berths
* Third-winningest active Division I Coach
* The only active DI female head coach to reach the 800-win milestone (did so Sept. 12 in a 3-0 win at then-No. 6 Southern California)
* At Florida (24 seasons): 737-87 (.894) | Career (28 seasons): 818-150 (.845)
* All-time in the SEC (since arriving at UF in ’91): 375-18 (.954)
2014 SEC VOLLEYBALL AWARDS
Player of the Year:
Alex Holston, Florida
Libero of the Year:
Jackie Napper, Kentucky
Freshman of the Year:
Rhamat Alhassan, Florida
Scholar-Athletes of the Year:
Holly Pole, Florida
Carly Kan, Missouri
Shelby Sullivan, Texas A&M
Coach of the Year:
Mary Wise, Florida
2014 ALL-SEC VOLLEYBALL TEAM
Kat Hutston
Alabama
Krystal Rivers
Alabama
Chanell Clark-Bibbs
Arkansas
Meredith Hays
Arkansas
Rhamat Alhassan
Florida
Simone Antwi
Florida
Mackenzie Dagostino
Florida
Alex Holston
Florida
Gabby Mallette
Florida
Morgan Bergren
Kentucky
Jackie Napper
Kentucky
Lauren O’Conner
Kentucky
Anni Thomasson
Kentucky
Briana Holman
LSU
Cati Leak
LSU
Nakeyta Clair
Ole Miss
Shelby Sullivan
Texas A&M
Jazzmin Babers
Texas A&M
2014 SEC VOLLEYBALL ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Kat Hutson
Alabama
Rhamat Alhassan
Florida
Kaz Brown
Kentucky
Gina Tillis
LSU
Payton Harris
Mississippi State
Stephanie Aiple
Texas A&M
Ashlie Reasor
Texas A&M