Burton Named Player of the Year
11/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 18, 2004
PLANO, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack volleyball team was honored by the Southland Conference after winning a share of the 2004 SLC title as five Ladyjacks received all-conference accolades announced league officials Thursday morning. SFA head coach Debbie Humphreys was also named conference coach of the year.
Senior Brittany Burton was named SLC Player of the Year after leading the team and being among the league leaders in kills, attack percentage and blocks. Burton is among the school's all-time top 10 in eight different categories and earlier this season she became the 11th Ladyjack to record 1,000 career kills. Burton concludes her career with back-to-back first-team all-conference honors.
Sophomore Stephanie Figgers earned second-team all-conference honors and was named SLC Libero of the Year after an incredible year that saw her finish second in the conference in digs (5.30 digs per game). Figgers set a new single-season school record with her 567 digs and is currently 10th all-time at SFA in that category. Figgers also took advantage of a new rule this year that allowed liberos to serve as she led the conference in service aces averaging 0.57 per game.
Freshman JJ Jones earned third-team All-SLC honors and was named SLC Freshman of the Year. Jones took over the starting setter role at the beginning of the conference season and was a catalyst in the team winning 17-straight matches to close out the season. Jones is currently eighth all-time at SFA with 1,136 assists.
Senior Deborah Kirkham and sophomore Laura Cramer earned honorable mention all-conference recognition. It is the second consecutive year that Kirkham has been named to the team.
Humphreys was named SLC Coach of the year after guiding the Ladyjacks to a 25-5 overall record. The team won 17-straight matches to close out the season and lock up a share of the league title. It is the third honor of Humphreys' 17-year career.
The Ladyjacks return to action Saturday in the semifinals of the SLC tournament. SFA is the top seed in the tournament and will await the winner of the No. 4 Texas-San Antonio/No. 5 McNeese State match. The Ladyjacks' semifinal match will begin at 7 p.m., from the Montagne Center in Beaumont, Texas.
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