Four Bison named to All-PAC teams
Andrew Woodley, Sports Information Director
GREENVILLE, Pa. (Nov. 7) – A quartet of Bison were named to All-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) volleyball teams announced the league office on Tuesday morning.
Bethany College senior middle blocker Sumayyah Muhammad (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding) and junior libero/defensive specialist Reilly Parker (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) were each tabbed All-PAC First Team, while sophomore outside hitter Katie Sparks (Macedonia, Ohio/Trinity) and freshman setter Jenna Scott (New Castle, Ind./Liberty Christian) were each named All-PAC Second Team. Sparks was also selected to the league's all-sportsmanship team.
Muhammad, an All-PAC Honorable Mention last year, posted career-highs in virtually every category this season. She led the team and ranked fifth in the PAC with a .259 hitting percentage and finished second on the team with 2.55 kills per set (321 total). Muhammad also led the team and slotted fourth in the conference with 0.79 blocks per set (99 total), including a league-leading 37 solo blocks. The Warren, Ohio native was also effective in the serves department, finishing third on the team and ninth in the PAC with 0.39 service aces per set (49 total). Muhammad currently ranks sixth all-time at Bethany with 218 assisted blocks.
Parker, who was the 2015 PAC Freshman of the Year, emerged as one of the top defenders in the league this season. She slotted second in the PAC with 5.62 digs per set with a league-high 708 digs and eclipsed 30 digs in four matches. Parker was also a skilled server for the Bison, as she finished third in the conference with 0.46 service aces per set (58 total).
Sparks garnered her first all-conference nod after leading the Bison and ranking fourth in the PAC with 3.40 kills per set (428 total). Sparks was one of the most versatile players on the team, registering 15 kill-dig double-doubles, while ranking fourth on the team with 2.58 digs per set (325 total).
Scott led the team and ranked third in the PAC with 8.06 assists per game and was the only player in the conference to toss around over 1,000 assists this season. Scott, who was named the PAC Rookie of the Week twice this year, finished fifth on the Bison with 2.04 digs per set (255 total), fourth with 42 service aces and chipped in 48 total blocks to slot fourth on the team.
Bethany finished the season 22-12 overall and made an appearance in the PAC Semifinals. This year marked the eighth-straight season with 20 wins or more, all under the direction of 11th-year Head Coach Courtney Kline.
The Bison will look to extend their season when they open play in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Volleyball Championship at McDaniel College on Wednesday, November 8 at 7 p.m.
