OKLAHOMA CITY – Ruby Kelley of Oklahoma City has been named the Sooner Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Year as announced by the conference office Wednesday afternoon. Kelley also garnered the Attacker of the Year award that was voted on by the league’s coaches.
Hank Moore of Nelson earned the conference Coach of the Year honor while Baleigh Garner of Oklahoma City was honored with the Assistant Coach of the Year award.
Mica Chadwell of College of the Ozarks earned the Defender of the Year honor while Casady McKinney of Mid-America Christian claimed the Setter of the Year honor. Jaliyah Cox of Science & Arts earned the Newcomer of the Year award with her teammate Brynlee Birney grabbing the Freshman of the Year accolade.
Kelley paced the Stars to the conference tournament's semifinals by leading the conference with 3.59 kills per set. While finishing second in hitting percentage with a .319 attack percentage while also finishing second in the league with 1.02 blocks per set.
Chadwell helped the Bobcats to their first appearance in the conference tournament leading the conference with 6.37 digs per set and her total of 669 was also tops in the league.
McKinney was one of the league leaders in assists as she was fifth in the conference with 5.87 assists per set while also fourth in service aces with 0.46 per set.
Cox was a key player for the Drovers as she was fourth in the conference with 3.16 kills per set while also finishing fifth in points with 3.38 points per set.
Birney was another contributor for the Drovers as she was fourth in the conference with 4.94 digs per set while also adding 97 assists and 28 service aces on the year.
Moore led the Lions to the conference regular season title with an undefeated record of 22-0 and a berth into the 2024 NAIA National Tournament this season.
Garner aided Stars Head Coach Kristen Coventon this season as they led Oklahoma City to an overall record of 15-15 before advancing to the conference tournament semifinals as the No. 5 seed.
2024 Sooner Athletic Volleyball Awards
Coach of the Year: Hank Moore – Nelson
Player of the Year: Ruby Kelley – Oklahoma City
Attacker of the Year: Ruby Kelly – Oklahoma City
Defender of the Year: Mica Chadwell – College of the Ozarks
Setter of the Year: Casady McKinney – Mid-America Christian
Newcomer of the Year: Jaliyah Cox – Science & Arts
Freshman of the Year: Brynlee Birney – Science & Arts
Assistant Coach of the Year: Baleigh Garner – Oklahoma City
First Team All-SAC
- Ruby Kelley – Oklahoma City
- Mica Chadwell – College of the Ozarks
- Lilly Hanna – Nelson
- Julie Milligan – John Brown
- Casady McKinney – Mid-America Christian
- Ruby O’Brien – Texas Wesleyan
- Natalie Adams – Oklahoma City
- Cassidy Hargesheimer – Nelson
- Bri Linehan – College of the Ozarks
- Miriam Nardi – Mid-America Christian
- Savanna Riney – John Brown
- Makenna Gantt – Texas Wesleyan
Second Team All-SAC
- Alex Bonnett – Nelson
- Tessa Glick – Nelson
- Taylor Golmen – John Brown
- Sydney Alexander – Texas Wesleyan
- Mackenzie Smith – Nelson
- Rylee Steward – Oklahoma City
- Erin Mullins – John Brown
- Bailee Alexander – Nelson
- Sarah Stafford – Mid-America Christian
- Jaliyah Cox – Science & Arts
- Amanda Dotter – Central Christian
- Selma Sutja – Wayland Baptist
Honorable Mention All-SAC
- Leah McCall – Langston
- Paige McGee – Southwestern Christian
- Taylor Alsaid – Oklahoma Panhandle State
- Brynlee Birney – Science & Arts
- Fade Obungade – Wayland Baptist
- Klaudia Brzeczkowska – Wayland Baptist
- Lyric Biggiers – Texas Wesleyan
- Grace Smallwood – Oklahoma City
- Alica Obusekova – Mid-America Christian
- Ryley Bowden – Mid-America Christian
- Emma DeSanti – John Brown
- Hanna Rubis – Texas Wesleyan
- Migdaly Bernal – Texas Wesleyan