Reigning SWAC Champions Set to Begin 2022 Season

8/24/2022 10:30:00 AM

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | The Florida A&M volleyball team officially opens its fall slate with a three-match appearance in the K-State Invitational that begins Friday (August 26).

Friday, August 26
Match 1: Florida A&M vs. North Carolina State (10 a.m. CT / 11 a.m. ET)
Match 2: Florida A&M vs. Sam Houston (5:30 p.m. CT / 6:30 p.m. ET)

Saturday, August 27
Match 3: Florida A&M at Kansas State (12:30 a.m. CT / 1:30 p.m. ET)

Live stats are available for each match, and the tournament finale against the host K-State will be live streamed on ESPN+.

Recapping A Historic Season

FAMU claimed its first Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship title – in its inaugural season as a league member – in a 3-2 upset over the defending champions, Jackson State
With a record of 25-7, 14-2 in the SWAC, the Rattlers wrapped the season with their first 20-win campaign since 2006
The team worked a 12-game winning streak before meeting Florida in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament; the year also captured 18 sweeps
Dominique Washington was named the SWAC Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, while Irem Ucar garnered Setter of the Year and Jessa Long, Libero of the Year
Jasmine Robinson was selected All-SWAC Second Team
Gokhan Yilmaz secured his 50th career win as a head coach in a 3-0 decision over Alcorn State (Oct. 10); he compiled 17 in a single season at Charlotte (2014-15) and currently manages 46 at the helm of FAMU

Key Returners

#3 Karina Pressoir | M | 6-0 | Gr. | Orlando, Fla. / Johnson C. Smith
#7 Irem Ucar | S | 5-8 | R-Sr. | Izmir, Turkey / Texas Christian University
#16 Dominique Washington | OH | 5-11 | Gr. | Chicago, Ill. / Georgia Tech
#18 Jasmine Robinson | OH | 5-11 | So. | Fleming Island, Fla. / Fleming Island HS
#20 Dominique Turner | L/DS | 5-5 | R-So. | Atlanta, Ga. / Marshall

Newcomers
Five Rattlers are set to begin their first season at FAMU, but the quintet is quite familiar with college play.

#1 Jada Taylor | L | 5-5 | Jr. | Chicago, Ill. / Grambling State
# 2 Brooke Lynn Watts | OH | 5-9 | So. | Odenton, Md. / Murray State
#8 Nina Sharpton | S | 5-10 | R-Sr. | Palm Beach, Fla. / N.C. State
#9 Brooke Hudson | DS | 5-3 | Sr. | Houston, Texas / Colorado State
#11 Aja Jones | MB | 6-1 | Sr. | Venice, Fla. / Florida Gulf Coast University

Amongst the Best
The Rattlers sat amongst the best in the country in several individual and team categories:

Irem Ucar
Assists Per Set | 10.58 | 35th in the nation / 1st in the SWAC
Total Assists | 1,186 | 27th in the nation / 1st in the SWAC
Service Aces | Irem Ucar | 42 | 45th in the nation / 3rd in the SWAC

Dominique Washington
Attacks Per Set | 11.73 | 21st in the nation / 1st in the SWAC
Kills Per Set | 4.99 | 5th in the nation / 1st in the SWAC
Points | 626 | 5th in the nation / 1st in the SWAC
Points Per Set | 5.54 | 7th in the nation / 1st in the SWAC
Service Aces | 41 | 59th in the nation / 6th in the SWAC
Total Attacks | 1,325 | 18th in the nation / 1st in the SWAC
Total Kills | 564 | 3rd in the nation / 1st in the SWAC

Team
Aces Per Set | 1.93 | 11th in the nation / 2nd in the SWAC
Hitting Percentage | .254 | 34th in the nation / 1st in the SWAC
Match W-L Percentage | .781 | 26th in the nation / 1st in the SWAC
Team Service Aces | 218 | 10th in the nation / 2nd in the SWAC

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