BIRMINGHAM – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2019 postseason volleyball honors, with Jackson State's Jylen Whitten and Alana Washington along with Alabama A&M's Megan Evans and Arkansas-Pine Bluff's Kaila Robinson taking home individual accolades. The teams and award winners were determined in a vote among the league's coaches and sports information directors.
 
Three Alabama A&M players earned all-conference honors. Megan Evans and middle-hitter Maya Evans were first-team selections, while outside-hitter Terra Brooks was a second-team selection.
 
The SWAC women's volleyball tournament begins on Thursday at Mississippi Valley State. Top-seeded Alabama A&M opens the tournament quarterfinals against No. 8 Grambling State. The tournament championship is scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m., with the winner earning a spot in the NCAA tournament.
 
Jylen Whitten was named the Player and Freshman of the Year after establishing herself as one of the league's premier players. The 5'9 freshman outside hitter from Redondo Beach, Calif. led the conference in kills per set with a 3.25 average, while adding 344 kills on the season. Additionally, Whitten led the SWAC in points, averaging 3.66 per set and 388 total. She also finished eighth in the conference in service aces with a 0.27 average per set and 30 total, while tallying 253 digs on the season.
 
Alana Washington was named Libero of the Year after recording a league-leading 500 digs. The 5'5 freshman from Chino, Calif. averaged the most digs per set (4.31) and posted 29 matches with 10 or more digs. Washington was second on her team in service aces with 26, while finishing fourth on the team in assists with 132.
 
Megan Evans claimed the Setter of the Year award after leading the league in assists by a significant margin, tallying 917 during the season while averaging 8.65 per set. The junior 6'0 middle hitter from Houston, Texas collected 243 digs with 99 total kills, 17 service aces and 25 blocks, accumulating 131 total points.
 
Kaila Robinson was awarded Newcomer of the Year after finishing the season second on the team in points (232.5), third on the team in kills (199), including 1.73 per set. The 5'9 redshirt-sophomore outside hitter from Ridgefield, Wash. added 43 assists and 26 serve aces. Robinson closed out the season third on the team in digs with (311), including 2.70 per set and tallied 14 blocks.  
 
First-Team All-SWAC Volleyball
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Bayle' Bennett, Alabama State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Taira Cottingham, Alabama State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Jylen Whitten, Jackson State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Cetara Carter, Prairie View A&M
Middle Hitter/Blocker: E'laisah Young, Alabama State
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Maya Evans, Alabama A&M
Setter: Megan Evans, Alabama A&M
Setter: Princess Starks, Southern
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Alana Washington, Jackson State
 
Second-Team All-SWAC Volleyball
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Madison Wolf, Jackson State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Terra Brooks, Alabama A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Gillian Jones, Grambling State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Tamaira Armstrong, Prairie View A&M
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Arabella Hall, Southern
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Victoria Pearson, Prairie View A&M
Setter: Mckenzie Boland, Alabama State
Setter: Breyanna York, Texas Southern
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Emerson Belles, Alabama State
 
SWAC Player of the Year
Jylen Whitten, Jackson State
 
SWAC Setter of the Year
Megan Evans, Alabama A&M
 
SWAC Newcomer of the Year
Kaila Robinson, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
 
SWAC Libero of the Year
Alana Washington, Jackson State
 
SWAC Freshman of the Year
Jylen Whitten, Jackson State