University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

Hicks, Yamamoto Represent Louisiana on All-Sun Belt Volleyball Team
11/20/2024 12:01:00 PM | Volleyball
Pair led the Ragin’ Cajuns defensive efforts throughout the 2024 campaign
LAFAYETTE – Graduate middle blocker Cami Hicks and senior libero Mio Yamamoto represented Louisiana Volleyball on the 2024 All-Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Team, it was announced by the conference office on Wednesday (Nov. 20, 2024).
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Both players were named to All-Sun Belt Second Team. Hicks collected her second career All-SBC award, adding to her 2022 season recognition, while Yamamoto appeared on the All-SBC team for the second straight season.
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It's the eighth consecutive season (2017-24) Louisiana placed at least one honoree on the All-Sun Belt Team – continuing the longest stretch as a member of the league. The total number of All-Sun Belt selections in program history grew to 35.
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Yamamoto and DeCambra's selection to the All-SBC Team increases the number of honorees in the Kristi Gray era to seven. They're the program's first players to earn repeat All-SBC accolades since Kelsey Bennett in 2021 and become the eighth and ninth overall to acclaim two-time All-SBC status.
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The 2024 All-Sun Belt postseason awards were voted on by the league's 14 head coaches.
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Hicks was the SBC leader in blocks per set (1.4), overall, for the entire season and finished tied for most total blocks (135) in the regular season. She ranked Top 25 nationally in blocks per set and total blocks, throwing up five or more blocks 17 times in 25 outings.
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The 135 blocks for Hicks marked a third consecutive 100-plus blocks season to close her collegiate career. She set the UL rally scoring era record for single-season blocks, became the program's rally scoring era career blocks record holder and moved into the SBC's all-time Top 10 in career blocks closing with 487.
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The Libero of the Year and All-Sun Belt First Team selection in 2023, Yamamoto recorded her second consecutive 400-digs campaign with Louisiana and ranked Top 25 nationally in digs per set. She nearly matched her digs total from last season (481 in 32 matches) in seven less matches, rounding up 478 digs in 25 matches.
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Yamamoto scooped double digits in 22 of 25 outings and posted 264 digs in SBC play, a second straight season with 250-plus against league foes. The Chigasaki, Japan native finished with 20 or more digs 13 times this season, increasing total in a Cajuns uniform to 23 times, and added 134 assists to her overall season stat line.
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2024 Sun Belt Volleyball Awards
First-Team All-Sun Belt
Maya Winterhoff, App State
Daedrianna Cail, Arkansas State
Sarah Martinez, Arkansas State
Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina
Reagan Barth, Georgia Southern
Brenya Reid, James Madison
Abryanna Cannon, South Alabama
Anna Loberg, South Alabama
Jade Defraeye, Texas State
Ryann Torres, Texas State
Smanatha Wunsch, Texas State
Tori Hester, Troy
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Second-Team All-Sun Belt
Addison Heidemann, App State
Ava Leahy, App State
Elise Marchal, App State
Kaitlin Whitlock, Arkansas State
Ashlyn Lovett, Georgia Southern
Kirsten Barrett, Georgia Southern
Annie Smith, James Madison
Cami Hicks, Louisiana
Mio Yamamoto, Louisiana
Myah Conway, Old Dominion
Sarah Gooch, South Alabama
Sunni Sheppard, Southern Miss
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Player of the Year:Â Tori Hester, Troy
Offensive Player of the Year:Â Tori Hester, Troy
Defensive Player of the Year:Â Daedrianna Cail, Arkansas State
Libero of the Year:Â Sarah Martinez, Arkansas State
Setter of the Year:Â Ryann Torres, Texas State
Newcomer of the Year:Â Daedrianna Cail, Arkansas State
Freshman of the Year:Â Elise Marchal, App State
Coach of the Year:Â Brian Gerwig, Arkansas State
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FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsVB), Facebook (/RaginCajunsVB) or Instagram (@RaginCajunsVB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Volleyball.
Fans are also encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
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Both players were named to All-Sun Belt Second Team. Hicks collected her second career All-SBC award, adding to her 2022 season recognition, while Yamamoto appeared on the All-SBC team for the second straight season.
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It's the eighth consecutive season (2017-24) Louisiana placed at least one honoree on the All-Sun Belt Team – continuing the longest stretch as a member of the league. The total number of All-Sun Belt selections in program history grew to 35.
Â
Yamamoto and DeCambra's selection to the All-SBC Team increases the number of honorees in the Kristi Gray era to seven. They're the program's first players to earn repeat All-SBC accolades since Kelsey Bennett in 2021 and become the eighth and ninth overall to acclaim two-time All-SBC status.
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The 2024 All-Sun Belt postseason awards were voted on by the league's 14 head coaches.
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Hicks was the SBC leader in blocks per set (1.4), overall, for the entire season and finished tied for most total blocks (135) in the regular season. She ranked Top 25 nationally in blocks per set and total blocks, throwing up five or more blocks 17 times in 25 outings.
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The 135 blocks for Hicks marked a third consecutive 100-plus blocks season to close her collegiate career. She set the UL rally scoring era record for single-season blocks, became the program's rally scoring era career blocks record holder and moved into the SBC's all-time Top 10 in career blocks closing with 487.
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The Libero of the Year and All-Sun Belt First Team selection in 2023, Yamamoto recorded her second consecutive 400-digs campaign with Louisiana and ranked Top 25 nationally in digs per set. She nearly matched her digs total from last season (481 in 32 matches) in seven less matches, rounding up 478 digs in 25 matches.
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Yamamoto scooped double digits in 22 of 25 outings and posted 264 digs in SBC play, a second straight season with 250-plus against league foes. The Chigasaki, Japan native finished with 20 or more digs 13 times this season, increasing total in a Cajuns uniform to 23 times, and added 134 assists to her overall season stat line.
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2024 Sun Belt Volleyball Awards
First-Team All-Sun Belt
Maya Winterhoff, App State
Daedrianna Cail, Arkansas State
Sarah Martinez, Arkansas State
Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina
Reagan Barth, Georgia Southern
Brenya Reid, James Madison
Abryanna Cannon, South Alabama
Anna Loberg, South Alabama
Jade Defraeye, Texas State
Ryann Torres, Texas State
Smanatha Wunsch, Texas State
Tori Hester, Troy
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Second-Team All-Sun Belt
Addison Heidemann, App State
Ava Leahy, App State
Elise Marchal, App State
Kaitlin Whitlock, Arkansas State
Ashlyn Lovett, Georgia Southern
Kirsten Barrett, Georgia Southern
Annie Smith, James Madison
Cami Hicks, Louisiana
Mio Yamamoto, Louisiana
Myah Conway, Old Dominion
Sarah Gooch, South Alabama
Sunni Sheppard, Southern Miss
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Player of the Year:Â Tori Hester, Troy
Offensive Player of the Year:Â Tori Hester, Troy
Defensive Player of the Year:Â Daedrianna Cail, Arkansas State
Libero of the Year:Â Sarah Martinez, Arkansas State
Setter of the Year:Â Ryann Torres, Texas State
Newcomer of the Year:Â Daedrianna Cail, Arkansas State
Freshman of the Year:Â Elise Marchal, App State
Coach of the Year:Â Brian Gerwig, Arkansas State
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FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsVB), Facebook (/RaginCajunsVB) or Instagram (@RaginCajunsVB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Volleyball.
Fans are also encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
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- www.RaginCajuns.com -
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