MONTICELLO – Senior Maegan Martin and junior Jalynn Thornton have been named to the 2008 All-Gulf South Conference Volleyball Second Team.

Martin (Burnet, Texas) earns her first accolade after leading the Blossoms in assists for the fourth straight year. This season, she is averaging 8.28 assists per set, racking up 1,019 over the year. She has also been a threat defensively, collecting 307 digs for a season average of 2.50 per set. She owns all of UAM’s records for assists and matches played as well as the career record for digs.
 
Thornton (Pleasant Grove, Utah) used only one season to make an impact in the GSC. Thornton transferred from Dixie State College and immediately opened eyes around the league. This season, she is UAM’s best hitter with a .246 hitting percentage and an average of 3.01 kills per game. She ranks 10th in the GSC with 313 kills and has also been a threat behind the service line, racking up 38 aces, which ranks second on the team and 10th in the GSC.
 
“These two have really stepped up this year,” said fourth-year head coach Nicole Smith. “Maegan has been with me since the start and she is really going to be hard to replace, both her talent and leadership. Jalynn has played exceptionally well and I expect she will improve tremendously over the off-season and have a great senior year.”
 
Harding’s Manuela Nesheva was voted the division’s most valuable player, while Arkansas Tech’s Brennae Benda earned the title of the GSC West Freshman of the Year. Tech’s Kristy Bayer was voted coach of the year after capturing the division title and achieving the most wins in Tech history since 2000.