BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2021 All-SWAC Volleyball teams and individual award winners on Thursday evening. The all-conference honors were voted on by the league’s coaches and sports information directors.  

Florida A&M’s Dominique Washington was named Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, while fellow teammates Jessa Long and Irem Ucar were tabbed Libero of the Year and Setter of the Year respectively.

Arkansas’s Haley Gomez was selected Blocker of the Year while Jackson State’s Olivia Flanagan was named Freshman of the Year rounding out the list of SWAC Volleyball individual award winners.

Player of the Year/Newcomer of the Year
Washington was one of the best offensive players in the nation as she finished the season ranked 3^rd in the NCAA in total kills (489) and 5^th in points (539.5). Washington leads the SWAC in attacks per set, kills per set points, points per set, total attacks, and total kills. Washington also ranks 5^th in total digs in the conference. She earned SWAC Weekly honors ten times during this past season.
 
Blocker of the Year
Gomez currently ranks 1^st in the conference in blocks per set (1.25) and 8^th in hitting percentage (.292). She ranks 5^th in the SWAC in total blocks (64), 2^nd in service aces (18), and 6^th in points (2.96 avg/s). She tallied season highs of 13 kills, 20 points, four aces, and nine blocks during regular season play.
 
Libero of the Year
Long solidified herself as one of the best defensive players in the conference and one of the best in the nation with her stellar play this season. She ranks 1^st in the conference in digs per set with 5.22, which is also good for 18^th in the nation. Long had a season high of 32 digs in a 3-2 upset at Auburn and also ranks 2^nd in the conference with 407 total digs. She earned SWAC Weekly honors three times this past season.
 
Setter of the Year
Ucar has been one of the top setters in the league this season ranking 1^st in assists (1020) and assists per game (10.5 apg). She also ranks nationally in both of those categories as well as ranking 32^nd in total assists and 38^th in assists per set. Ucar also has the 5^th most service aces per set in the conference. She earned SWAC Weekly honors eight times this past season.
 
Freshman of the Year
Flanagan ranks 5^th in the league in total kills (233) and 7^th in kills per set (2.5 kpg).  She was named Newcomer of the Week twice this past season for the Lady Tigers. Flanagan was a significant contributor for a Jackson State Lady Tigers team that claimed the 2021 SWAC Regular Season Championship with a 15-1 record in league play.
 
The complete listing of all-conference selections and individual awards winners can be found below.
 
Player of the Year
Dominique Washington- Florida A&M

Blocker of the Year
Haley Gomez- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
 
Libero of the Year
Jessa Long- Florida A&M
 
Setter of the Year
Irem Ucar- Florida A&M
 
Newcomer of the Year
Dominique Washington- Florida A&M

Freshman of the Year
Olivia Flanagan- Jackson State
 
All-SWAC First Team
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Dominique Washington- Florida A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Alexis Williams- Jackson State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Olivia Flanagan- Jackson State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Thalia Cordero-Moreno- Texas Southern
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Kalysia Bates- Alabama State
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Haley Gomez- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Setter: Irem Ucar- Florida A&M
Setter: Damassy Thompson- Jackson State
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Jessa Long- Florida A&M
 
All-SWAC Second Team
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Jada Rhodes- Alabama State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Zyonn Smith- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Jasmine Robinson- Florida A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Jasmine Moore- Bethune-Cookman
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Mahogany Vinson- Alabama State
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Taila Gaines- Jackson State
Setter: Jakarta Hope- Prairie View A&M
Setter: Nikole Akamine- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Trinity Bryant- Jackson State

About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
 
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
 
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.