Gannon, Garvin accorded post-season honors by LSC

SAN ANGELO, Texas — Eastern New Mexico University senior Jasmine Gannon and freshman Mikaela Garvin were accorded postseason honors in volleyball on Wednesday by the Lone Star Conference.

Gannon, a senior outside hitter from Clovis who prepped at Texico H.S., earned a spot on the All-LSC second team. Meantime, Garvin, a lefty from San Antonio, was named the conference’s freshman of the year and headed up the league’s seven-player all-freshman contingent.

ENMU’s season came to an end at 7-19 on Tuesday night in a 25-20, 25-21, 25-15 loss to Dallas Baptist at Dallas in the first round of the 12-team LSC tournament.

Quarterfinals, semifinals and the championship moved to San Angelo, Texas, where top-seeded and regular-season champion Angelo State served as host. Upsets abounded and Saturday night’s championship match was slated to feature fourth-seeded West Texas A&M against No. 10 St. Edward’s, which advanced by knocking off No. 7 Arkansas-Fort Smith, No. 2 Texas-Tyler and No. 3 Lubbock Christian.

It was the second all-conference selection for Gannon, who earned a first-team berth in 2018. She posted 11 double-doubles this season, leading the Greyhounds in kills and digs while finishing second on the squad in digs per set.

Garvin became the first ENMU player to win an LSC individual award since Clovis High alum and current CHS assistant volleyball coach Andrea Aguilar was named the league’s libero of the year in 2017. She is the third ENMU player to win the freshman of the year honor, joining Lauren Frye (2013) and Tina Mayo (1991).

Garvin averaged more than two kills per set this season and posted a team-leading hitting percentage of .255. She also contributed 60 total blocks.

After starting the season 1-15, the Hounds (7-19, 7-10) recovered to win six of their final nine matches and earn a berth in this week’s LSC postseason tournament. Seeded 11th, they lost their opening-round clash on Tuesday at No. 6 Dallas Baptist 25-20, 25-21, 25-15.

Regular-season champion Angelo State dominated the individual awards. Senior outside hitter Kailyn Gilbreath was named conference player of the year and offensive player of the year, senior middle blocker Baileigh Allen was the defensive player of the year and head coach Chuck Waddington earned his fourth coach of the year award.

Other individual honors went to senior Celeste Vela of Texas A&M-Commerce, setter of the year; senior Chandler Vogel of West Texas A&M, libero of the year, and junior outside hitter Halee Van Poppel of Dallas Baptist, newcomer of the year.