Volleyball Dominates All-Louisiana Team with Player, Newcomer and Coach of the Year Honors
Dec 22, 2016 | Women's Volleyball
BATON ROUGE – The Tulane volleyball team, hot off a season in which the program was tabbed the most improved team in the nation, named three players to the All-Louisiana First Team and one to the Second Team, landing three specialty awards along the way, the Louisiana Sports Writer's Association announced today.
The awards were voted on by the volleyball sports information and sports communication directors for the sport in Louisiana after nominations were compiled. Voters could not vote for athletes from their own school and must submit a vote for their nominees to be eligible.
Junior right-side hitter Sarah Ray was named Player of the Year, with fellow junior Justine Bowers, the team's starting setter, picking up Newcomer of the Year honors. In his first year at the helm of the Green Wave coaching staff, head coach Jim Barnes won a close battle for Coach of the Year.
Ray and Bowers were First Team selections alongside senior outside hitter Tea Juric. Freshman libero Kaylie McHugh received Second Team All-Louisiana honors.
"We're very thankful to the LSWA for these awards," Barnes said. "Our players were well deserving and we are grateful for the recognition. Our goal is to make Tulane volleyball the jewel of the state, and this is the first step in that direction."
Ray, who was key in Tulane's offensive scheme this season, led the team in kills with 458 from the right side. She also led in total attempts with 1279 and recorded 36 kills at Memphis for the second-highest single-match mark in school history. The junior became the first Green Wave player to receive all-conference honors since 2013 when she was named to the American Athletic Conference All-First Team earlier this month.
Bowers, in her first year with the program after transferring from Gardner-Webb, played in all 130 sets for the Green Wave in 2016. She led the team in both assists (1268) and service aces (29). She also recorded a career-high 74 assists against North Dakota early on in the season to tie for the second-highest single-match total in school history and set an American Athletic Conference record.
Juric joined her two teammates as Tulane's third First Team selection, the most of any Louisiana team this year. In her senior campaign, the outside hitter finished second on the team with 340 kills and 369 digs, notching seventeen double-doubles on the year. She also received All-American Athletic Conference Second Team honors for her efforts on the court.
"Ray had a big year, and it is great to see her get the MVP award," Barnes said. "Bowers made a huge impact on our team in her first season and we look forward to having her and Ray back for their senior year. Juric is now a four-time All-Louisiana member and helped us have the most improved team in the nation."
In his first season in New Orleans, Barnes led the Green Wave to an 18-14 overall record, finishing an even 10-10 in league play for a fifth place finish in the American Athletic Conference. The team improved over 150 spots in RPI from 247 to 91, the biggest turnaround in the nation. This year's conference finish was Tulane's highest since migrating to the American Athletic Conference prior to the 2014 season.
McHugh wrapped up her first year at Tulane with a team-leading 594 digs (4.60/set), the second-highest single-season total in school history. The libero also led the American in league-only matches, with 435 digs and 5.30 digs/set. In the final game of the 2016 season, McHugh broke a single-match school record with 37 digs against USF. She also led Tulane to 2130 digs on the season, a single-season record, totaling 16 matches with 20+ digs and being named Second Team All-Conference.
Three of Tulane's four All-Louisiana honorees will return to New Orleans for the 2017 season, with the exception of Tea Juric who will graduate from Tulane in May.
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LSWA All-Louisiana Volleyball Team
FIRST TEAM
Justine Bowers, Tulane
Tiara Gibson, LSU
Tea Juric, Tulane
Marta Monne, Louisiana Tech
Sarah Ray, Tulane
Stacey Reilly, UL Lafayette
Bridget Justis, McNeese
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PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Sarah Ray, Tulane
LIBERO OF THE YEAR – Bridget Justis, McNeese
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Amanda Perry, Xavier
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR – Justine Bowers, Tulane
COACH OF THE YEAR – Jim Barnes, Tulane
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SECOND TEAM
Alexandria Aguilera, McNeese
Chanelle Gardner, UL Lafayette
Allison Hartmann, Loyola
Angela Papach, Louisiana Tech
Gina Tillis, LSU
Juliana Tomasoni, Xavier
(tie) Kaylie McHugh, Tulane
(tie) Amanda Perry, Xavier
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