Quartet Claims Postseason Honors

The University of Tennessee volleyball team had a total of four players earn All-Southeastern Conference accolades on Monday afternoon, highlighted by two first team honorees and the first SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year in Lady Volunteer history.
Already the only UT volleyball player to ever be named ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-District three times, senior Nikki Fowler added SEC Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year laurels to her already impressive résumé, sharing the honors with Kentucky's Lauren Rapp.
Fowler also claimed a spot on the All-SEC First Team for the third consecutive year, joining junior Kayla Jeter who did so for the first time in her career. Senior Leah Hinkey was tabbed to the league's second team, while Kelsey Robinson earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team.
"I'm very happy and proud to see these four players receive such recognition from the rest of the coaches in our conference," UT Head Coach Rob Patrick said.
A marketing major with a 3.80 cumulative GPA, Fowler is a two-time AVCA Honorable Mention All-American and has now been named to the All-SEC First Team in each of the last three seasons after claiming the league's freshman of the year award in 2007.
"Nikki defines student-athlete at the very highest level," Patrick said.
"She has represented the University of Tennessee in the absolute best way possible and I am extremely proud of what she has been able to accomplish during her four years here. I have no doubts at all that she will be successful in whatever venue she decides to pursue following her volleyball career.”
Arguably the best all-around player in UT volleyball history, Fowler ranks in the top 10 in seven career categories, including total attacks, kills, digs and blocks, is seventh all-time on the SEC career attacks chart and has won more SEC Player of the Week awards than any other player in league history with eight to her name.
A 5-11 outside hitter, Kayla Jeter has established herself as one of the top offensive weapons in the SEC over the past two years. She currently ranks second on the squad and 10th in the SEC with 320 kills (3.02/set) and is hitting at a stellar .303 clip, good for third on the team. The Solon, Ohio, product also leads UT with 17 solo blocks and is third with 73 total putbacks
Jeter took over a six-rotation role 13 matches into the season, becoming a primary passer for the Big Orange. She sports a .970 reception percentage with just 11 errors in 369 total attempts and has nearly doubled her previous career high with 171 digs (1.61/set) this season.
The recipient of her second postseason accolade from the SEC after being named to the 2006 All-Freshman Team, Leah Hinkey is playing the best volleyball of her career as a senior. A 6-1 middle blocker, she is hitting at a team-leading .370 clip, which ranks fifth among all SEC players. She also sits third in the league and tops UT with 124 blocks (1.17/set) and places second on the squad with 18 aces and fourth with 207 kills (1.95/set).
Robinson has stepped right in and taken over a six-rotation role as an outside hitter for the Lady Vols as a true freshman. In her first year at Rocky Top following a prep career in Bartlett, Ill., she has started all 27 matches in which she has played and leads UT with 20 service aces. She tops the team with 337 digs as well and her 3.59 digs/set rank ninth among all SEC players. She is the only freshman in the top 10 in that category.
Despite missing most of three matches due to an ankle injury and playing libero for five contests while recovering, Robinson also ranks fifth on the Lady Vols quad with 169 kills (1.80/set). During those five matches as UT's libero, she averaged a stunning 5.22 digs/set. In the 10 matches since she returned to outside hitter, she has averaged 2.33 kills/set and 3.73 digs/set.