PVAMU Augustine Named SWAC Defensive Specialist of the Year; Volleyball Heads to SWAC Tournament

ITTA BENA, Mississippi – For the second year in a row, Prairie View A&M volleyball senior Christine Augustine was named the SWAC Defensive Specialist of the Year as well as earning a spot on the All-SWAC First Team as the libero.

Augustine, a 5-5 defensive specialist from Humble, Texas, became the school's all-time leader in career digs with 1,419 over her four-year stint at PVAMU. She led the team with 392 digs, averaging 3.66 digs per set, ranking second in the conference. Augustine also dished out 73 assists and seven service aces this season.

"I am extremely proud of Chrissy," said head PVAMU volleyball coach TaCho Tyler. "She is a testament to a player that is hard working and coachable. Chrissy has grown so much from the player she was her freshman year. It's been truly a honor to have coached her all four of seasons here, and watch her earn accolades on and off the court. She'll be graduating with honors in chemical engineering as well. She is the epitome of a student-athlete."

With the 2018 regular season in the books, the #7 seed Prairie View A&M volleyball team awaits #2 seed defending SWAC champion Alabama State in the first round of the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament in Itta Bena, Miss. at the H.R. Harrison HPER Complex on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m.

"The team is focused, ready, and prepared as they have been for every game," Tyler said. "Practices went really well this week. We need to keep the offensive momentum going from the last two wins we had. It all starts at 0-0. One win at a time."

Behind a 7-24 overall record and 7-11 SWAC mark, PVAMU ended the regular season with a pair of victories over rival Texas Southern, 3-0 and then to UAPB 3-1 for senior night with both contests at home. Offensively, Jaylan Thomas has been leading the charge. The junior transfer has tallied 251 kils, averaging 2.35 kills per set. She has dished out 17 assists along with 17 service aces to add to her numbers. Thomas recorded 193 digs, averaging 1.80 digs per set. She also has 18 blocks, five solo.

The Lady Hornets are 20-17 overall and 16-2 in SWAC play. The team is led by 2018 SWAC Co-Player of the Year Candace Martin, who put down 212 kills for a .276 attack percentage, while also leading the SWAC in total blocks with 112.

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