A day after the LSU volleyball team learned it would be travelling to Seattle to play in its first NCAA tournament in two seasons, Tiger freshman middle blocker Briana Holman earned several Southeastern Conference postseason awards.
Holman was named to the All-SEC team and All-SEC Freshman Team, the conference announced Monday.
“It’s special for a freshman to be named not only to the freshmen team, but to the All-SEC team,” said LSU coach Fran Flory. “The impact of the freshmen in our league this year is tremendous. I think any other year that Missouri doesn’t do what Missouri does and go undefeated, [Holman] is the SEC Freshman of the Year.”
The Texas native leads the Tigers with a .337 hitting clip, including 371 kills during the regular season. Holman also leads the conference with 188 total blocks in 2013 — with Texas A&M freshman Jazzmin Babers in second with 136 blocks.
At the beginning of the season, Flory said Holman had the potential to be one of the best players in program history. It appears she got off on a good start to her career as Flory maintains her stance of a hopeful future for the rising star.
“I think she’ll be the next All-American here,” Flory said. “I put her on the same level of [former LSU middle blocker] Brittnee Cooper who was a first team All-American and a special person and athletically [Holman is] better than Brittnee as a freshman, she’s had more impact on her team.”
Cooper was a two-time All-SEC player during her time at LSU and an All-American in 2009.
Holman was the only LSU player to receive any postseason accolades. Florida and Missouri led the conference with four players each named to the All-SEC team.
Missouri senior setter Molly Kreklow earned Player of the Year honors while her uncle, Missouri head coach Wayne Kreklow, was named SEC Coach of the Year.