BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – LSU sophomore middle blocker Briana Holman and junior outside hitter Cati Leak were named to the 18-member All-SEC team, while freshman outside hitter Gina Tillis was named to the All-Freshman team the league announced on Wednesday in conjunction with the announcement of the league’s annual awards.
For the second consecutive season, the league’s coaches have voted for one All-SEC class to be recognized as the best-of-the-best from the conference this year, as for the first time LSU has earned two players on the list, included as one of six institutions with multiple players. Regular season champion Florida led the way with five selections while Kentucky was second with four.
“We are very happy for Briana, Cati and Gina,” head coach Fran Flory said. “They have all been very impactful to our season. They are all also very team oriented and know that their success is a tribute to their teammates and our team’s success this season.”
Holman is the first LSU player in the new era to earn back-to-back selections to the All-SEC team, after garnering the honor as a freshman last season. After earning the preseason All-SEC nod before the year began, the DeSoto, Texas, native has not lost the form that made her an All-American candidate as she currently leads the SEC in blocks (1.53), second in points per set (4.98), third in kills per set (3.88) and fifth in the SEC in hitting percentage (.391).
In the league she has been just as impressive, hitting .400 which is fifth individually in the league, while sitting fourth in kills with 261 for a 3.84 average, as her 102 blocks and 1.50 average is currently tops as her 4.85 points per set average is second but 329.5 total points is first. She was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week in the first week of action back in September, earning all-tournament honors at Purdue and Florida State.
Currently second to Holman in kills and points, while being third in digs, aces and blocks, Leak has earned her first-ever postseason award now in her third season in the Purple and Gold. Leak is averaging 2.63 kills per set, hitting .263 on the season in 99 of a possible 105 sets played. The Guntersville, Alabama, product is averaging 2.31 digs per set with 229 on the year, while producing 52 blocks and 21 service aces.
Sitting eighth in the conference in career kills, the highest placing for any current LSU player, Leak is 20th in the conference in points per set averaging 3.14, as four of her seven double-doubles on the year have come in SEC play.
Tillis’ selection marks the second-straight year the Tigers have had at least one representative on the All-Freshman team, as the Rockwall Heath High School product out of the Dallas area has 174 kills in her inaugural season for LSU, averaging 2.76 per set with a .209 hitting percentage. In just 63 total sets played, Tillis is blocking 0.46 shots per set on average, with a 0.73 digs per set average with 46.
In conference only matches, Tillis is ninth averaging 2.89 kills per set, while sitting 15th in points with a 3.25 average. Those high numbers have come in the league thanks to some stellar play, as she has eight double figure kill matches on the year, none bigger than her 26-kill performance against Arkansas that set a new freshman record and earned her SEC Freshman of the Week honors in October.
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2014 SEC 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
All-SEC 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
SEC 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