November 10, 2015 - Panola Volleyball is proud to announce several Fillies received all-conference accolades this season, and freshman Morgan Currie (College Station, TX) was named Libero of the Year for Region XIV-North.
Currie, a former Rouse High School standout, established her presence early with her big-time defensive plays, earning 4.48 digs per set, 53 assists and 20 aces on the year. She posted 15 or more digs in 22 of 35 matches played in this season, with a season-high of 34 digs coming in a 5-set victory against Brookhaven. In conference she took her game to a new level, recording 20 or more digs on eight different occasions against Region XIV opponents. Currie is the first Panola player named Libero of the Year since Nausheen Merchant received the honor in 2012.
Joining Currie on the 1st Team All-Conference list is fellow freshman right side hitter from South San Francisco, CA, Sharon Tukuaoga. Tukuaoga led the Fillies offensively this year in total kills (371) and kills per set (2.88), while also contributing 88 total blocks and 55 digs. She reached double-digit kills in 22 of 36 matches played including a season-best of 22 kills against Wharton County Junior College, and hit .300 or better in 18 different contests.
Freshman Ana Carolina Oliveira (Sao Paulo, Brazil) made an immediate impact for the Fillies in multiple areas this year, earning 2nd Team All-Conference honors for her efforts. Oliveira was second on the team in total kills this season with 329, but she was all over the Fillies stat sheet with 374 total digs, 39 total blocks, a team-leading 41 aces, and 202 assists. She saw her role increase from outside hitter to also include setter when a devastating injury sidelined sophomore setter Sierra Moses for the Regional Tournament, but she responded admirably with a gutsy performance against Wharton County in the opening round that included 19 kills on .421 hitting, 28 assists, 12 digs and a solo block to prove instrumental in the Fillies thrilling comeback win. Her all-around performance secured her a place on the prestigious 2915 Region XIV All-Tournament team.
Joining Oliveira on the 2nd Team All-Conference list was sophomore Brittany Lampkin after receiving the same honor as a freshman. Lampkin was fourth on the team with 235 kills on the year, and was second in the entire Region XIV-North conference in blocks per set with 1.06. Her best match of the season came in the team's first battle with Wharton County, when she notched 12 kills on .375 hitting.
Rounding out All-Conference awards, the Fillies also had several players receive Honorable Mention recognition for their efforts this season. Sophomores Adriana Skipper (Grand Prairie, TX), Sierra Moses (Round Rock, TX), and Leiyona Young (Las Cruces, NM), along with freshmen Victoria Baptista Santos (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Rachel Henderson (Fort Worth, TX). Skipper led the team with 756 total assists this year, 251 digs and 20 aces. Moses added 613 assists, 166 digs and 17 aces. Young led the entire conference with 1.16 blocks per set along with 117 total kills. Baptista Santos was another crucial all-around player for the Fillies, tallying 187 kills, 385 digs, 59 total blocks and 24 aces. Henderson was third on the team in total kills despite missing two conference matches with an injury, tallying 250 on the year in addition to 45 digs, 135 total blocks and a 1.05 blocks per set stat good enough for third overall in conference.
"We always preach a team-first mentality, but individual accolades are a strong reflection of a program as well," said Fillies volleyball Head Coach Amber McCray. "We get to witness first-hand all of the hard work these student-athletes put in every day, so it's great to see them rewarded for their efforts."
