ATLANTA – Spring Hill College libero Ashlyn Whiteside was named the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Defensive Player of the Year. The redshirt sophomore also earned preseason all-conference first team honors.
 
Whiteside made her preseason first-team debut after taking home SIAC All-Conference Second Team honors last season. She led SHC with 252 digs and 45 service aces.
 
Coming off its sixth consecutive SIAC championship, Spring Hill was ranked No. 1 in the SIAC West Division Preseason Poll, which is voted on by the conference coaches.
 
2025 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Jarianis Perez, Albany State – Junior, Outside Hitter (Jacksonville, Fla.)
 
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Ashlyn Whiteside, Spring Hill — Redshirt Sophomore, Libero (Fairhope, Ala.)
 
2025 All-SIAC Women's Volleyball Preseason Teams

FIRST TEAM
POSITION	NAME	SCHOOL	CLASS	HOMETOWN
Outside Hitter	Jarianis Perez*	Albany State	Junior	Jacksonville, Fla.
Outside Hitter	Savannah Everett*	Savannah State	Senior	Colorado Springs, Colo.
Outside Hitter	Alexis Simpson*	Edward Waters	R-Senior	Caledonia, Minn.
Middle Blocker	Kyra Gaston*	Lane	Senior	Detroit, Mich.
Middle Blocker	Desire' Young*	Benedict	Junior	Aurora, Colo.
Libero	Ashlyn Whiteside*	Spring Hill	R-Sophomore	Fairhope, Ala.
Setter	Amiyah Walker	Savannah State	Sophomore	Pleasant Grove, Ala.
– * RETURNING 2024 ALL-SIAC SELECTION

 

SECOND TEAM
POSITION	NAME	SCHOOL	CLASS	HOMETOWN
Outside Hitter	Zahra Coates	Central State	Senior	Pflugerville, Texas
Outside Hitter	Dakotah Holmes	Fort Valley State	Sophomore	Hampton, Ga.
Outside Hitter	Sawyer Arbuckle	Clark Atlanta	Sophomore	DeSoto, Texas
Middle Blocker	Madison Spells	Clark Atlanta	Senior	Dickinson, Texas
Middle Blocker	Randi Neal	Kentucky State	Graduate	Baltimore, Md.
Libero	Nakayla James	Clark Atlanta	Junior	Altamonte Springs, Fla.
Setter	Willow Alls	Benedict	Junior	Pickerington, Ohio

 

PREDICTED ORDERS OF FINISH (BY DIVISION)

EAST DIVISION

1. Albany State

2. Savannah State

3. Fort Valley State

4. Clark Atlanta

5. Benedict

6. Edward Waters

7. Allen

WEST DIVISION

1. Spring Hill

2. Central State

3. Lane

4. Kentucky State

5. Tuskegee

6. Miles

7. LeMoyne-Owen

 
 
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