Byers and Lukralle Earn Conference Accolades

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Just moments after advancing to the semifinal round of the 2010 Peach Belt Conference Volleyball Tournament with a 3-1 victory over Lander University, two members of the University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball team were honored for their hard work on the court at the annual PBC Volleyball Banquet.

Sophomores Shannon Byers and Samantha Lukralle both earned post-season plaudits for their efforts on the court in the 2010 season as voted by the conference coaches.

Byers (Morristown, Minn./Faribault) was named to the All-PBC first team while Lukralle (Lindnehurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) was named the PBC Libero of the Year.

For the regular season, Byers recorded a team-high 12 double-doubles while seeing action in all 120 sets for USC Aiken during the 2010 season, starting in all 29 matches. She has been a pivotal part to Coach Glenn Cox’s team since she arrived on campus as a freshman last season, leading the Pacers’ attack in both seasons.

Byers ended the regular season 4th in the PBC for total kills (321) and 6th in the conference in kills per set (2.67). Her 321 kills led the team while her 308 digs were good enough for second-best on the team.

She ended her 2010 campaign averaging a double-double with 11.07 kills and 10.62 digs per match including a season-high four-match stretch from Oct. 6 to Oct. 16 where she recorded a double-double. Her best match of the season came in USC Aiken’s match with Emory when she recorded a season-high 19 kills and 15 digs.

The Pacers’ libero, Lukralle was just one of two Pacers to see action in all 120 sets and 29 matches for USC Aiken during the regular season. She has been an instrumental part to Coach Glenn Cox’s team since she arrived on campus as a freshman last season, leading the Pacers’ back row defense with record-setting seasons in both of her two years in a USC Aiken uniform.

In total, Lukralle ended the regular season in the top-10 in three all-time PBC categories as well as in the top-10 in four conference season categories while setting two new school records during the 2010 season. Only three times this season did she not record double-digit digs, corralling in 20 or more digs in 17 matches.

For 2010, she topped the league in total digs with 603, wrapping up the year 4th in total service aces (44), 9th in aces per set (.37) and was 3rd in the PBC in digs per set (5.03).

Her 603 digs in the 2010 campaign placed her in sole possession of 9th all-time in PBC history for most digs in a season.

Lukralle recorded a career-high 40 digs in USC Aiken’s 3-2 victory over Augusta State on Sept. 29. Her 40 digs in the match were good enough for 10th-best in PBC history for most digs in a match.

During the Pacers’ 3-0 victory over Coker College on Oct. 23, Lukralle set her first school record of the season as she tallied 10 service aces, breaking the previous record of nine service aces in a single match that originally set by former Pacer great Roxanna Rivera in 1995. Her 10 aces were one shy of the PBC record of 11 and leave her 3rd in PBC history for most service aces in a single match.

She set her second school record of the season, third or her career, during USC Aiken’s home match against PBC regular season champions Flagler College on Oct. 29; this time eclipsing her own record of 523 digs in a single season with three matches remaining in the regular season at the time.

2010 Peach Belt Conference
Volleyball All-Conference Team

First Team
Manyi Ati, Montevallo
Shannon Byers, USC Aiken
Anna Garrison, Montevallo
Melissa McCracken, Lander
Rebecca Royal, Flagler
Rachel Stacy, Flagler
Meg Weathersby, Flagler


Second Team
Taylor Chapman, Montevallo
Gwen Clarke, Armstrong Atlantic State
Virginia Clay, Montevallo
Kelsie Deaton, Francis Marion
Mallory Eggert, Francis Marion
Rebecca Morgan, UNC Pembroke
Jessica Santaniello, Armstrong Atlantic State

Player of the Year
Meg Weathersby, Flagler

Co-Setters of the Year
Anna Garrison, Montevallo
Rebecca Royal, Flagler

Libero of the Year
Samantha Lukralle, USC Aiken

Freshman of the Year
Manyi Ati, Montevallo

Coach of the Year
Taylor Mott, Flagler