Lake City, Fla. - A record setting season for the Lake-Sumter State College volleyball team has resulted in a National Tournament bid and of course a lot of hardware for the team as Xiomara Williams earns Most Outstanding Player of the Gulf District Tournament.
A First and Second-team of 12 players each, comprised the All Sun-Lakes Conference teams, which were announced prior to the start of the District Tournament. The first-team honorees also received FCSAA All-State honors.
1st Team All-Conference/ FCSAA All-State
Williams put an exclamation point on her career this season, ranking third in the region in total kills (317) and kills per set (3.52). Showing her athleticism on the court throughout the year, she averaged 3.63 digs per set and posted 20 double-doubles in the process. The Orlando native broke the single season mark for service aces with 64, snapping the previous Lakehawk record of 62 set by Rachel Bruce in 2003.
She ended the year with 85 kills and 64 digs in the Gulf District Tournament. Williams' gutty performance in the championship game helped elevate her to the Most Outstanding Player Award recipient.
Kayla Chambliss also had an amazing sophomore season earning DII Setter of the Week multiple times throughout the year. She finished fourth in the region averaging 8.34 assists per set. Chambliss' 968 assists in 2021 are third all-time in a single season in program history. Her 192 assists during the District Tournament pushed her passed Emily Smith (2013-14) for all-time career assists leader with 1508.
Chambliss also earned a spot on the Gulf District All-Tournament Team.
Emma Rome was the only freshman to get the nod for First Team All-Conference/ FCSAA All-State. The newcomer finished top five in both kills per set (3.57) and total kills (275) in the Region during the regular season. Rome's 334 total kills this year are third all-time in a single-season.
2nd Team All-Conference
Mikayla Simmons earned Second Team All-Conference accolades. The sophomore racked up the third most digs in the Region with 487. Good enough for fourth all-time in a single season for the Lakehawks. Simmons totaled 102 digs in the Gulf District Tournament, including a career high 33 digs in the championship match. The Middleburg, FL native was also named to the All-Tournament Team.
Lake-Sumter set a program record this season with 24 wins. This marks only the fifth time a volleyball team has reached the 20-win mark in a season. It is also the highest winning percentage the program has ever seen at .800. The team will be headed to the NJCAA National Tournament in Cedar Rapids, IA November 18-20.