BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference has announced its Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Volleyball team highlighted by Preseason Player of the Year Jylen Whitten (JSU), Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Alana Washington (JSU) and Preseason Blocker of the Year Haley Gomez (UAPB). The preseason team and individual awards were voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
 
At the conclusion of last season Jackson State's Jylen Whitten was named SWAC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year after establishing herself as one of the league's premier volleyball student-athletes. During regular season play the 5'9 freshman outside hitter from Redondo Beach, Calif. led the conference in kills per set with a 3.25 average, while adding 344 kills on the season. Additionally, Whitten led the SWAC in points, averaging 3.66 per set and 388 total. She also finished eighth in the conference in service aces with a 0.27 average per set (30 service aces), while tallying 253 digs during the season.
 
Jackson State's Alana Washington was named SWAC Libero of the Year following a breakout 2019 campaign where she recorded a league-leading 500 digs. The 5'5 freshman from Chino, Calif. averaged the most digs per set (4.31) and posted 29 matches with 10 or more digs. Washington was ranked second on her team in service aces with 26, while finishing fourth on the team in assists with 132.
 
2019 was a stellar year for Arkansas-Pine Bluff's Haley Gomez as she led her team in total blocks (90), while also contributing 45 digs to go along with 229 kills. The Eastvale, Calif. native was a key contributor for a Lady Lions team that concluded the season with an impressive 5-2 record at home.   
 
Jackson State (4) and Prairie View A&M (4) led all member institutions with four total preseason selections followed by Alcorn State (2), Grambling State (2), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2), Southern (2), Texas Southern (1) and Mississippi Valley State (1).
 
A complete listing of the Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Team and individual award winners can be found below.
   

Position	Name	Classification	School	Hometown
OH/RS	Jylen Whitten	Sophomore	Jackson State	Redondo Beach, Calif.
OH/RS	Gillian Jones	Sophomore	Grambling State	Houston, Texas
OH/RS	Tamaira Armstrong	Senior	Prairie View A&M	Bryan, Texas
OH/RS	Kaila Robinson	Redshirt Junior	Arkansas-Pine Bluff	Ridgefield, Wash.
MH/Blocker	Victoria Pearson	Senior	Prairie View A&M	El Paso, Texas
MH/Blocker	Haley Gomez	Sophomore	Arkansas-Pine Bluff	Eastvale, Calif.
Setter	Princess Stark	Senior	Southern	Cordova, Tenn.
Setter	Jakarta Hope	Sophomore	Prairie View A&M	Killeen, Texas
Libero/DS	Alana Washington	Sophomore	Jackson State	Chino, Calif.

 

Position	Name	Classification	School	Hometown
OH/RS	Camry Dabney	Senior	Jackson State	Cypress, Texas
OH/RS	Danielle Lilley	Sophomore	Texas Southern	San Bernardino, Calif.
OH/RS	Jada Carter	Junior	Southern	Sachse, Texas
OH/RS	Jeda Curry	Sophomore	Alcorn State	Hampton, Ga.
MH/Blocker	Taila Gaines	Sophomore	Jackson State	New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
MH/Blocker	Tamaira Johnson	Junior	Grambling State	Mesquite, Texas
Setter	Jasmine Chambers	Senior	Alcorn State	Fort Worth, Texas
Setter	Ariana Austin	Sophomore	Mississippi Valley State	Crowley, Texas
Libero/DS	Skyla Childs	Sophomore	Prairie View A&M	Cypress, Texas

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.