Bearkat pair named preseason All-SLC
8/16/2018 3:16:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Full Release From Southland Conference
FRISCO – Southland Conference officials unveiled the 2018 preseason all-conference teams on Thursday with a pair of Sam Houston State Bearkats earning their way onto the first team.
Seniors Taylor Cunningham and Jaclyn Ward were each part of the 12-member first team with Cunningham being an automatic selection by virtue of earning first team all-SLC honors at the conclusion of the 2017 season.
Cunningham was one of just two players in the Southland in 2017 to rank in the top 10 in both kills per set and attack percentage in league-only matches and this year will be looking to land on the postseason all-conference team for the third straight year. The 5-11 middle blocker was third in the SLC with 1.19 blocks per set for the year and averaged 2.76 kills per set while hitting at a .280 clip.
Meanwhile, Ward handled duties as the primary setter for the Kats for the first time in 2017 and was one of the league's best. She earned honorable mention all-Southland honors a year ago after ranking second in the league with 10.00 assists per set. She upped that to 10.68 assists per set in SLC-only matches and guided the Kats' offense that was the only team in the SLC to place three players in the league's top 10 of kills per set.
Cunningham, Ward and the rest of the Bearkats will kick off the 2018 season next weekend with the Sam Houston State Tournament at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum. The Kats will square off with Drake to open up the weekend on Friday, August 24 before facing Texas Southern and Bethune-Cookman on Saturday.
