Hickey named SBC Libero of the Year, 4 Jags earn All-SBC honors

By Press release submission

Nov 17, 2022

South Alabama volleyball senior Rachel Hickey was named the Sun Belt Conference Libero of the Year and also earned all-conference honors along with three additional Jaguars, as announced by the league office Tuesday.

Hickey became the first Jag in program history to earn the honor. The Granger, Ind., native, who was also voted first-team all-SBC, ranks fourth in the SBC in digs (248) and digs per set (4.00) in conference matches. She ranks fifth in the SBC overall in digs (420), sixth in digs per set (4.00) and tied for ninth in service aces (27).

Hickey has recorded 10 or more digs in 24 of 28 matches this season, including a season-high 25 against ULM on Oct. 1, and tallied double-digit dig totals in 15 of 16 SBC matches. She has posted a .976 reception percentage on 375 total attempts entering this week's SBC Championship in Foley, Ala. Hickey was named the SBC Libero of the Week twice this year, earning the honor in consecutive weeks (Oct. 4 & Oct. 11). She owns the career digs per set record at South Alabama at 4.32 digs per set, and also owns the single-season record for digs per set with 4.52 in 2021.

Outside hitter Hannah Maddux was also named first-team all-SBC. The San Antonio, Texas, native ranks second in the SBC in kills (274), kills per set (4.42), total points (317) and points per set (5.11) in league contests. She ranks third overall in the SBC in kills (425) and points (488.5), and fourth in kills per set (4.01) and points per set (4.61). She is the first Jaguar outside hitter to earn first-team all-conference honors since Mechell Daniel in 2013.

Maddux has recorded 10 or more kills in 18 of her last 19 matches, and posted double-digit kill totals in 15 of 16 Sun Belt matches this season. She has recorded 10 or more kills in 20 matches this year, including a season-high 25 in the SBC opener at Southern Miss on Sept. 23, and has recorded 20 or more kills in five matches this year, four of which came in SBC contests. Maddux has also posted 19 service aces, three assists, and 64 total blocks with 25 solo blocks and 39 block-assists.

Middle blocker Niki Capizzi and setter Kailey Keeble were named second-team all-SBC. Capizzi ranks fourth in the SBC overall in hitting percentage (.331) and blocks (103), and seventh in blocks per set (0.97). She ranks fourth in the conference in blocks (64), fifth in blocks per set (1.03) and 10th in hitting percentage (.312) in league matches, and has recorded 10 or more kills in 11 matches this year. The Huntington Beach, Calif., native posted four or more blocks in 15 matches on the season, including a season-high eight total blocks against Texas State on Oct. 22. She has tallied 25 solo blocks and 78 block-assists for 103 total blocks in 28 matches, and recorded 22 service aces, 60 digs and five assists.

Keeble's selection marks the second straight year the Maryville, Tenn., native has garnered all-conference honors after earning first-team all-SBC accolades last season. She has recorded 19 double-doubles in 28 matches this season, and ranks fourth overall in the SBC in assists (1063) and assists per set (10.12). Keeble ranks fifth in the SBC in assists (609) and assists per set (9.98) in league matches, and has tallied 40 or more assists in 10 of 16 SBC contests, and 16 of 28 matches on the year including a season-high 57 against McNeese on Sept. 3. She has posted 10 or more digs in 19 matches this season, including a career-high 26 at South Florida on Aug. 27, while also recording 52 total blocks with five solos and 47 block-assists, 48 kills and 12 service aces. She was named the SBC Setter of the Week on Sept. 6 this season. Keeble currently ranks second in career assists per set (10.37) at South Alabama, and fourth in career assists (2291).

This season marks the second straight year South Alabama has placed four student-athletes on the all-conference team.

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2022 Sun Belt Volleyball Awards

Sun Belt Player of the Year: Emily DeWalt, Texas State

Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year: Janell Fitzgerald, Texas State

Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year: Sophie Davis, James Madison

Sun Belt Setter of the Year: Emily DeWalt, Texas State

Sun Belt Libero of the Year: Rachel Hickey, South Alabama

Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year: Emily Jarome, Georgia Southern

Sun Belt Freshman of the Year: Maya Winterhoff, App State

Sun Belt Coach of the Year: Lauren Steinbrecher, James Madison

2022 All-Sun Belt Conference Teams

First Team All-Sun Belt