The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff women's volleyball SWAC Championship game against Jackson State has been canceled due to covid-19 protocols within the program.
The Lady Lions were scheduled to play the Jackson State Tigers in the SWAC Championship game at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Birmingham Crossplex in Alabama.
The Lady Lions finished the season 9-4 as they continue to build the program. They finished their regular season 7-4, winning six of their conference games.
UAPB was predicted to finish the regular season in sixth place in the SWAC, but under the leadership of Coach Chelsey Lucas, assistant coach LaMonica Peacock, and graduate assistant coach Singryd Valadares, the Lady Lions went on to finish third in regular-season play.
The Lady Lions earned their top-three spot in the SWAC and clinched the third seed in the 2021 SWAC Tournament. Facing Alcorn State in the quarterfinal, the Lady Lions swept the Lady Braves 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-16) to secure their spot in the semifinal against the No. 2-seeded Prairie View A&M Panthers.
The odds were against UAPB in the matchup against the Lady Panthers, but with teamwork, energy and unity, the Lady Lions pulled off what would be called an upset by some.
But "it's not an upset if you're prepared," SWAC Blocker of the Year Haley Gomez said about the victory over Prairie View A&M, which punched UAPB's ticket to the SWAC Championship for the first time in school history.
UAPB volleyball didn't only prove the doubters wrong, but it earned SWAC honors as well.
Zyonn Smith was named SWAC Player of the Year and first-team All-SWAC. Smith played a significant role for the team, leading the conference in four categories. She's No. 1 in the conference in kills with 167, ranks No. 1 in total points with 149.5 this season, and is second in points per set, averaging four points per set. Smith had a career-high 20 kills against Jackson State earlier this season.
Haley Gomez was named SWAC Blocker of the Year and first-team All-SWAC. She was named SWAC Player of the Week twice in the 2021 spring season for her leadership abilities and protection in front of the net for the Lady Lions.
She played a big part in helping the Lady Lions, averaging 2.2 blocks per set. Gomez ranks first in the SWAC with 61 blocks and also leads in blocks per set with 1.4 blocks per set. She had a career-high nine blocks against Prairie View A&M in the SWAC semifinal.
Sophomore Nikole Akamine was named second-team All-SWAC, helping the Lady Lions rank high in the conference in assists per set, averaging 11.52 assists per set. Akamine had a season total of 234 assists through the spring 2021 season and ranks second in the SWAC in assists per set, averaging 5.48 assists per set. Akamine had a career-high 33 assists against Southern University. She also ranks second in the conference in aces per set, averaging 0.57 aces per set.
Junior Kaila Robinson took the initiative and showed off her leadership skills for the Lady Lions this season, having lots of positive energy that would rub off on her teammates.
Sophomore Elyssa Kennedy played an important role right behind Akamine, finishing the season with a total of 156 assists for the Lady Lions. Sophomore Reagin Williams played in the front row alongside Gomez, making an important combination offensively and defensively for the Lady Lions.
Sophomore Jasmine Fuqua also made a contribution this season, playing on the front row with Gomez.
Sophomore Nyah Ellis had a standout season playing libero for the Lady Lions, collecting a team-high total of 199 digs in the spring 2021 season.
Junior Destiny Thomas showed aggression through the season for the Lady Lions on both ends, finishing the season with 76 kills and 17 blocks for UAPB. Finally, junior Kori Diego made an impact for the Lady Lions when needed, playing a huge role for the team in the semifinal against Prairie View A&M. Diego collected seven kills and three blocks in the semifinal victory over Prairie View A&M.
The Lady Lions are expected to be a team to compete for a conference championship in 2022, with the full lineup returning with no seniors on the roster.