BIRMINGHAM – The University of North Alabama volleyball team will enter the upcoming Gulf South Conference tournament with plenty of hardware following the announcement of the league’s annual awards on Wednesday. Alison Jacobs was named the East Division’s Player of the Year, Cara Gregg earned freshman-of-the -year honors and head coach Stephanie Radecki was named co-Coach of the Year.

 

Middle blocker Sarah Roberts also joined Jacobs as a first team All-GSC selection. Gregg received second-team honors.

 

Jacobs becomes UNA’s 12^th player of the year in the conference and the fifth in six years under Radecki. The setter from Elkhorn, Neb., averaged 9.59 assists per set and was also an offensive threat with 222 kills on the season. She was named GSC East Offensive Player of the Week twice this year and posted three triple-doubles on the season.

 

The post-season recognition is the third for Jacobs after receiving second team all-conference honors in 2007 and 2008.

 

Gregg, an outside hitter from Knoxville, Tenn., became Radecki’s first Freshman of the Year recipient and the program’s first since 2000. She was 10^th in the GSC after averaging 2.99 kills per set. The total was the highest among freshmen in the league and the fifth-highest overall total in the East Division. She had double-digit kills in 20 matches this year, including a season-high 15 on Oct.30 against West Alabama.

 

After being named second team All-GSC as a sophomore last season, Roberts adds the first-team honors to her resume this year. The junior from Maryville, Tenn., led the East Division with a 3.66 kills-per-set average. She was third overall in the conference. Roberts was also second in the division in hitting percentage with a .293 showing and also added team-high totals in blocks (83) and service aces (35) in 2009. She was also named GSC East Offensive Player of the Week three times.

 

Radecki shares the Coach of the Year honor with West Alabama’s Tabitha Turner. The coaching award marks the third time she has received the honor in her six seasons at UNA. The Lions finished the regular season by winning nine of their final 12 matches and are in position to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006.