Lions tabbed sixth, Jimenez named preseason All-SAC First Team
ROCK HILL, S.C. - The Mars Hill volleyball team was voted sixth in the South Atlantic Conference Coaches Preseason Poll, released Monday morning.
The Lions accumulated 64 points. Mars Hill went 17-10 during the 2024 season, reaching the SAC Semifinals for the first time in over 10 years.
Senior libero Laela Jimenez was named to the preseason All-First Team.
Jimenez was a CSC Second Team Academic All-American and AVCA Honorable Mention All-American in 2024.
Jimenez, an AVCA All-Southeast Region First Team selection, was also named to the 2024 D2CCA All-Southeast Region Second Team, marking her second straight year receiving that honor.
Jimenez, a native of Naples, Florida, was third in the nation in digs per set and helped lead the Lions to the top spot in the country as the team leads all others in Division II, averaging over 20 digs per set. Jimenez was named a South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Week earlier in the season and led the conference in total digs and service aces. She helped lead the team to their eighth straight SAC Tournament appearance as well as their first trip to the semifinals since 2011.
She was named All-SAC First Team for the second straight year back in November.
Jimenez wrapped up the season with 99 sets played in 27 matches, totalling a career-high 613 digs and 6.19 digs per set.
Ioana Poenaru and Alyssa Kornegay were named as Players to Watch for the upcoming season.
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