Southern Conference Honors Four EFSC Volleyball Players
By Space Coast Daily // November 1, 2013
All-Conference recognition
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — Four Eastern Florida State College volleyball players received All-Conference recognition from the Florida College System Activities Association Southern Conference with two being named to the first team.
Sophomore setter Taylor Gembecki of Fort Myers, FL, and freshman outside hitter Arianna Bethel of Stuart, FL were named to the All-Conference first team. Sophomore outside hitter, libero and defensive specialist Alana Nielander of Lake Placid, FL and freshman opposite Mariah Davis of Fort Pierce, FL were named to the second team.
After 35 matches Gembecki was ranked in the NJCAA Division I top 50 nationally in two categories: 46th in assists with 709 and 49th in service aces with 39. She led the team in matches played with 32.
Davis leads the team in sets played at 113 and in kills with 268. Bethel and Gembecki are tied for second in sets at 109. Bethel is second in kills with 240. Nielander is second in digs with 214.
“This is great recognition for these student athletes, I enter them into the selection process but do not get to vote for them, said Eastern Florida head coach Herb Tokumoto.
“They are rated by coaches within our conference for us to get two on the first team and two on the second team is a great acknowledgement of these student-athletes’ impact as players and that they impressed these coaches.
“The fact that two are freshmen speaks even more so of their talent and as impact players. Taylor has really stepped her game up and brought her love for it, which is evident in her consistent play and her command on the court. Arianna has so much enthusiasm and desire to compete that it is infectious and envelops the rest of her team.
“Alana has been a steady force and has accepted any role within the team that helps them achieve and supports all her teammates on and off the court. Mariah has been the rock solid player even when it was apparent that she would be playing a new position she accepted it and she has steady improved with everyday that’s gone by.
“Thank you to my fellow coaches for their great choices and the reaffirmation of our coaching philosophies.”
Eastern Florida, 13-22, wraps up its season at Daytona State College (18-15) in Daytona Beach at 7 p.m. Friday.
