LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Three members of the Southwestern University Pirates volleyball team were named to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) All-Conference Team this season.
Senior outside hitter Jamison Duck was named to the First Team, earning her first SCAC All-Conference award. Senior libero Brandi Campos and freshman middle blocker Ashley Whitlock were named to the Second Team.
Duck finished the regular season second in the SCAC in kills with a team-high 325 in 100 sets, leading the conference with 3.25 kills per set on a .175 hitting percentage. This season, she surpassed 1,000 kills for her career earlier this month against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and currently sits at 1,110.
Just as important, her all-around game and ability to play all six rotations has helped to stabilize and grow a young Pirates team, finishing second on the team in digs with 316. She finished the season with 15 double-doubles in points and digs.
"When you look at Jamison's development over her career, for her to have this type of senior season is a tribute to her growth mentally and physically," Head Coach Don Flora said. "With what she does for us defensively, passing, and serving, then taking a ton of swings for us; she carries a heavy burden."
Duck also lead the SCAC in aces per set with 0.60 per set after finishing second in the conference last year at 0.57, showing her rapid improvement throughout the course of her career.
"We changed up her serving routine and she really bought into it and worked at her craft," Flora said. "Serving is something you really need to be diligent about."
In her freshman season, Whitlock proved to be remarkably formidable in the middle, leading the team in blocks with 55 (11 solo, 44 assisted), finishing sixth in the conference in blocks per set with 0.77. She was also very efficient with her 156 kills and 189 total points coming on a .347 hitting percentage, which was good for third in conference.
"As a newcomer, her head was spinning at times early," Flora said. "We were able to slow things down and simplify her movements and decisions, making her more explosive. Her maturation process has been fun to watch."
Whitlock got stronger as the season went on, leading all SCAC players in blocks per set (0.89) and hitting percentage (.395) in conference play.
"To lead the SCAC in blocks per set over conference play was pretty cool for her development," Flora said. "She really wasn't taught how to sing block in terms of when and why to make certain decisions.
"We knew she was physical, we just didn't know if her experience level was going to catch up to the speed of this level of volleyball so quickly. It's a real tribute to her ability to want to learn, grow, and have a mindful attitude of getting better every day."
Campos earned her second consecutive Al-SCAC Second Team award. Last year's Backrow Player of the Year finished with 479 digs, averaging 4.79 digs per set, with both good for third in the conference. She also finished second on the team in assists (60) and service aces (27).
"Brandi is our defensive coordinator. She's our eyes and ears on the court," Flora said. "She's out there calling defenses and flying around, beating up her body every day.
"She's fought through a lot of injuries throughout the year and really has been the steadfast defender mentally and physically for us the past two seasons."
Just as important as her statistical production is her leadership, helping to guide Pirates both young and experienced. After Duck's 1,000th kill, she credited Campos with helping to call shots from the backrow. Flora credits Brandi for working with the younger players.
"I think of the main things is working with them every day in training about what they see with her level of direct communication," Flora said. "She's really built that trust with the newcomers and they're starting to believe what her eyes see and it's helping them with their success.
"Once you trust your teammates and see success, it grows on itself. Brandi is truly the eyes and ears of what we're doing on the court."
The Pirates finished the season 16-11 and 12-4 in conference play, earning the third seed in the SCAC Championships. The quarterfinals start Friday, Nov. 2 with Southwestern University playing Austin College in Irving, Texas at 6 p.m.