BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The Southwestern Athletic Conference released the 2016 preseason All-SWAC awards Friday with Howard scoring all three individual awards courtesy of Kela Gray (Offensive Player of the Year), Kendall Hamilton (Defensive Player of the Year) and Mackenzie Diotte (Goalkeeper of the Year).
Preseason awards were voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
The two-time, defending champions not only swept specialty awards, the Bison also collected the highest number of members on preseason teams with a total of eight – three first-teamers, five on second. Jackson State found itself in second with five Lady Tigers on preseason teams, followed by Alabama State with four spots and Mississippi Valley State with three on the teams. Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern each claimed one position.
Previously a sophomore, Gray scored 17 goals, finishing second in the SWAC. She also ranked in the Conference’s top five in categories such as shots (76), points (42) and assists (8). Her best match came early in the season against Hampton when she scored four goals with two assists. Gray was named to the 2015 AllSWAC First Team and averaged 1.83 points per game.
Hamilton made a name for herself last year on the defensive side, helping the squad wrangle a winning 13-8-2 season. As a freshman, she greatly influenced the squad’s competitive average of a 1.53 goals against mark and aided in the Bison’s nine shutouts on the season. Hamilton earned a spot on the 2015 All-SWAC First Team as well as a position on the 2015 All-Tournament Team.
Also entering her sophomore year is Goalkeeper of the Year, Diotte. The goalie from Oshawa, Ontario recorded an impressive freshman season, starting in all 23 matches played by Howard. She was ranked second in the Conference in goals against with a 1.49 average and made 127 saves – a .804 save percentage. Personally, she registered five shutouts. Diotte’s best appearance came against Longwood when she reached for a career-high 11 saves. She finished the season with All-Tournament Team and All-SWAC Second Team honors.
During preseason voting, the predicted order of finish was also decided with the Bison clearing first-place with 170 points. Howard finished its 2015 crusade with an overall 13 wins, eight losses and two ties. The Bison managed a 7-3 conference record and finished the year in third-place.
The Devilettes, who finished the 2015 campaign as regular season champions, collected a second-place rank with 146 points, followed by the Lady Hornets with 145 points. Jackson State managed 126 points for fourthplace with fifth-place going to Prairie View A&M with 112 points. Arkansas-Pine Bluff landed in sixth-place with 102 points, while Texas Southern (101) and Alabama A&M (74) were voted to finish seventh and eighth, respectfully. Southern (58), Grambling State (46) and Alcorn State (42) recorded ninth, tenth and eleventh positions, respectfully.
The complete list of award winners is listed below as well as the predicted order of finish.
SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Offensive Player of the Year – Kela Gray – Howard
Defensive Player of the Year – Kendall Hamilton – Howard
Goalkeeper of the Year – Mackenzie Diotte – Howard
| FIRST TEAM | ||
F
|
Alicia Cooper
|
Prairie View A&M
|
F
|
Kela Gray
|
Howard
|
F
|
Aaliyah Lewis
|
Alabama State
|
M
|
Laadi Issaka
|
Mississippi Valley State
|
M
|
Ariela Lewis
|
Alabama State
|
M
|
Jalana Ellis
|
Jackson State
|
M
|
Sara Vaughn
|
Howard
|
D
|
Kendall Hamilton
|
Howard
|
D
|
Kyleigh Io
|
Jackson State
|
D
|
Makayla Johnson
|
Texas Southern
|
G
|
Faith Toennies
|
Jackson State
|
| SECOND TEAM | ||||
F
|
Heather Craddock
|
Mississippi Valley State
| ||
F
|
Whitney White
|
Howard
| ||
F
|
Emily Fleming
|
Alabama State
| ||
M
|
Mariana Balboa
|
Mississippi Valley State
| ||
M
|
Kalen Roberts
|
Jackson State
| ||
M
|
Anna Mitchell
|
Howard
| ||
M
|
Sie’Yara Wells
|
Jackson State
| ||
D
|
Zakiya Muhammad
|
Howard
| ||
D
|
Kayla Edwards
|
Alabama State
| ||
D
|
Sandra Bond
|
Howard
| ||
G
|
Mackenzie Diotte
|
Howard
| ||
| PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH | ||||
1
|
Howard
| |||
2
|
Mississippi Valley State
| |||
3
|
Alabama State
| |||
4
|
Jackson State
| |||
5
|
Prairie View A&M
| |||
6
|
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
| |||
7
|
Texas Southern
| |||
8
|
Alabama A&M
| |||
9
|
Southern
| |||
10
|
Grambling State
| |||
11
|
Alcorn State
| |||
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