BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference has announced its 2022 Preseason All-SWAC Volleyball teams as voted by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
 
Florida A&M's Dominque Washington was named the Preseason Player of the Year, while fellow teammate Jada Taylor was named the Preseason Libero of the Year. FAMU's Irem Ucar was named the Preseason Setter of the Year and Bethune-Cookman's Alleah Dallas was named the Preseason Blocker of the Year rounding out the list of individual honors announced by the league. 
 
Washington was one of the best offensive players in the nation this past year as she finished the regular season ranked 3^rd in the NCAA in total kills (489) and 5^th in points (539.5). Washington led the SWAC in attacks per set, kills per set points, points per set, total attacks, and total kills. She also ranked in the top 10 in total digs in the conference. Washington earned SWAC Weekly honors ten times during this past season.
 
Dallas controlled the front of the net all season for the Wildcats in 2021, leading her team and the SWAC in total blocks with 99 - the eighth-highest single-season mark in B-CU history. She averaged 1.13 blocks per set with 35 solo blocks and 64 block assists. She recorded a block in all but three games during the season, recording multiple blocks in 23 games. She was the only player in the SWAC with double-digit blocks in a single match while also earning SWAC Defensive Player of the Week.
 
Taylor transferred from Grambling State after being one of the best liberos in the nation and the SWAC during the 2021 campaign. She ranked 24^th in the nation in digs per set (5.09) and 53^rd in the nation in total digs (514). During conference play, Taylor led the SWAC in digs per set (5.61) and total digs (320). She was named the 2021 SWAC Preseason Libero of the Year after earning Spring 2021 SWAC Libero of the Year and First Team All-SWAC accolades.
 
Ucar was one of the top setters in the league this past season ranking 1^st in assists (1020) and assists per game (10.5 APG). She also ranked nationally in both of those categories as well as ranking 32^nd in total assists and 38^th in assists per set. Ucar also had the 5^th most service aces per set in the conference. She earned SWAC Weekly honors eight times this past season.
 
Jackson State led all member institutions with five (5) total preseason selections followed by Florida A&M (4) and Alabama State (3). Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Bethune-Cookman, Prairie View A&M, Alcorn State, Southern, and Texas Southern each had one selection (1). 

A complete listing of the 2022 Preseason All-SWAC Teams and individual award winners can be found below.
 
Preseason Player of the Year
Dominique Washington- Florida A&M

Preseason Blocker of the Year
Alleah Dallas- Bethune-Cookman
 
Preseason Libero of the Year
Jada Taylor- Florida A&M
 
Preseason Setter of the Year
Irem Ucar- Florida A&M
  
Preseason All-SWAC First Team
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Dominique Washington- Florida A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Alexis Williams- Jackson State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Olivia Flanagan- Jackson State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Thalia Cordero-Moreno- Texas Southern
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Kalysia Bates- Alabama State
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Mahogany Vinson- Alabama State 
Setter: Irem Ucar- Florida A&M
Setter: Damassy Thompson- Jackson State
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Trinity Bryant- Jackson State 
 
Preseason All-SWAC Second Team
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Jada Rhodes- Alabama State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Jasmine Robinson- Florida A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Jasmine Moore- Bethune-Cookman
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Mikenzie Young-Mullins- Alcorn State
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Taila Gaines- Jackson State
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Xaria Taylor- Southern  
Setter: Jakarta Hope- Prairie View A&M
Setter: Nikole Akamine- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Jada Taylor- Florida A&M

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.
 

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