ATLANTA, Ga. – Spring Hill College volleyball is projected to win the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference West Division in a preseason coaches' poll and six Badgers were awarded preseason honors, the league announced Friday.
 
Spring Hill led the SIAC with five total preseason votes, followed by Benedict. SHC has been the reigning SIAC champion for three seasons going into this year. Last year, the Badgers' season came to an end in Pensacola, Fla., in the opening round of the 2021 NCAA Regional Tournament.
 
Middle blocker Kassandra Fairly was chosen as SIAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year for the third time in her career. Outside Hitter/Libero Mikayla Boyer was voted SIAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year for the first time in her career. Emily Weinzapfel, Taylor Fontenelle and Fairly were named to the Preseason All-Conference First Team. Boyer, Airyonna Weaver and Jessica Fairly received second-team all-conference preseason honors.
 
Fairly earned the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honor for the third time in her career. The redshirt senior led the SIAC in hitting percentage (.395) and ranked third in kills (3.23/s). She led the Badgers in points (435) and kills (369) last season. The three-time SIAC First-Team All-Conference selection and SIAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team member was also the SIAC Player of the Year in 2018 and 2021. The Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., native also earned 2018 SIAC Freshman of the Year and Tournament MVP. In 2019, she was named to the D2CCA All-South Region Team. She has been named SHC Female Athlete of the Year three times.
 
Boyer was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year for the first time in her career. She led the Badgers in digs (459) last season while tallying 124 kills, 22 service aces and 110 sets played. The Covington, La., native has been named to the SIAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team three times. She received the 2021 SHC Female Heart of the Badger Award.
 
Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Weinzapfel garnished preseason honors for the first time in her career. In 2021, she made 26 starts in 35 appearances and tallied 191 kills, 38 service aces, 275 digs and 246 points. The Evansville, Ind., native is a two-time member of the SIAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team.
 
Junior defensive specialist Fontenelle led the Badgers in service aces (45) last season. In 35 appearances she recorded 400 digs in 104 sets. The Spanish Fort, Ala., native earned the SIAC Libero of the Year honor in 2021. She is a two-time member of the SIAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team.
 
Sophomore Weaver earned preseason honors for the first time in her career. Last season she earned SIAC All-Tournament Team honors and had a strong debut season. She recorded 212 kills, 119 digs and 62 total blocks in 102 sets.
 
Jessica Fairly appeared on the preseason all-conference team for the first time in her career this year. Last season, she led the Badgers with 750 set assists while being named to the SIAC All-Tournament Team. In 2020 she was a member of the SIAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team.
 
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