Hardeman Earns AVCA All-Region Honors
12/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
2015 AVCA Division I Regional Awards
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Sophomore outside hitter Leah Hardeman became Coastal Carolina volleyball's first American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Region selection as the organization announced its regional award winners.
Hardeman is one of 20 student-athletes -- including six honorable mention selections -- to be voted to the South Region team, which includes such schools as Texas A&M, Alabama and Auburn.
A six-rotation player, Hardeman repeated as the Big South Volleyball Player of the Year in 2015 and was named the conference's Tournament MVP as she led Coastal to both regular season and tournament championships, and a return trip to the NCAA postseason.
Hardeman led the Big South in total kills (410), kills per set (4.02), points (460.5) and points per set (4.51), and was also in the league's top-10 in hitting percentage (.281). Her 4.02 kills per set additionally rank 50th in the NCAA.
Hardeman posted double figure kills in 21 matches this season, and led the Chanticleers with 11 double-doubles as the sophomore also chipped in on the defensive side averaging 2.62 digs per set.
The Clarkston, Ga., native capped the 2015 season with a career performance against #16 Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Volleyball Championship, setting a Coastal single-match record with 27 kills while matching her personal best of 22 digs.
Through the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament, Hardeman's 6.75 kills per set leads all participating players while her 5.50 digs per set rank seventh.
Hardeman is the 17th Big South student-athlete to receive AVCA All-Region honors, and ninth to be named higher than an honorable mention selection.
AVCA South Region Team
Stephanie Aiple (S) -- Texas A&M
Jazzmin Babers (MB) -- Texas A&M
Alyssa Cavanaugh (OH) -- Western Kentucky
Nakeyta Clair (MB) -- Ole Miss
Jesse Earl (L) -- Auburn
Brittnay Estes (RS) -- Lipscomb
Leah Hardeman (OH) -- Coastal Carolina
Kat Hutson (OH) -- Alabama
Noelle Langenkamp (MB) -- Western Kentucky
Jessica Lucas (S) -- Western Kentucky
Krystal Rivers (RS) -- Alabama
Heather Schnars (OH) -- Central Arkansas
Shelby Sullivan (MB) -- Texas A&M
Pilar Victoria (OH) -- Arkansas
Honorable Mention
Jewell Dobson (MB) -- Lipscomb
Alexa Filley (S) -- Auburn
Brena Jones (MB) -- Arkansas
Ty Laporte (MB) -- Ole Miss
Kiara McGee (OH) -- Texas A&M
Kayla Ostrom (S) - Lipsomb
