SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Three Elon volleyball players received All-Southern Conference honors on Thursday. Sophomores Traci Stewart and Caroline Lemke earned spots on the all-conference second team, while Ali Deatsch was named to the league’s all-freshman team. The teams were chosen through balloting done by the league’s 12 head coaches.

Stewart and Lemke, who each earned all-freshman honors last season, became the first Phoenix players to receive second team all-conference accolades since Emily Hayes in 2004. The three all-conference selections are the most ever for the volleyball team at the Division I level and the most since 1993.

Furman’s Kelsey Salava and Caroline Adams were named the conference’s player of the year and freshman of the year, respectively. Catherine Hanners of UNC Greensboro was named the libero of the year. Furman head coach Michelle Young was selected as the SoCon Coach of the Year after leading her team to a 16-0 conference record.

Stewart, a right side hitter, recorded 258 kills for an average of 2.66 kills per set. Defensively, the Summerfield, N.C., native tallied 80 blocks to finish third on the team. She also recorded 15 service aces, 59 assists and 181 digs.

Lemke, who hails from Carmel, Ind., led the team in blocking with 111 blocks for an average of one block per set. She tallied a team-best 22 solo blocks and 89 block assists. The middle blocker and outside hitter also led the team offensively with 270 kills and an average of 2.43 kills per set.

As the starting libero for each of Elon’s matches, Deatsch totaled 448 digs. She set an Elon Division I record with 39 digs against Chattanooga. The Elmhurst, Ill., native also notched 30 service aces.

Elon posted its most wins (23) since the Phoenix made the move to Division I in 1999. The Phoenix went into the final weekend of the regular season with a chance to make the SoCon tournament. Elon dropped a 3-2 decision to Appalachian State to end its chance at the league crown and the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

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