Jones Named AAC Volleyball Freshman of the Year; Davenport Earns First-Team All-AAC Honors

PHILADELPHIA – Temple University freshman Sydney Jones was named the 2024 American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, highlighting a trio of Owls awarded postseason accolades by the league on Thursday. Jones, who was also named to the All-AAC Second Team and Freshman Team, was joined by graduate student Taylor Davenport (All-AAC First Team) and freshman Christiana Greene (All-AAC Freshman Team).

Jones burst onto the scene in her first season at Temple, earning AAC Freshman of the Week honors a league-high three times. The Havertown, Pa. product ended the season fourth in the league with 369.5 points and seventh overall in the AAC with 324 kills while averaging 3.60 kills/set, which was enough for third in the conference. The rookie recorded double-digit kills in 19 matches and reached 20 or more kills on three occasions, including a career-high 25 against Binghamton on Oct. 9. Her performance against Binghamton is tied for sixth highest single-game total in the conference.

The 5-10 outside hitter also provided tremendous versatility defensively. She achieved a double-double in nine matches, including a career-high 18 digs at Charlotte in the final match of the season. Jones is the first Owl to receive conference Freshman or Rookie of the Year honors Dara Peric in 2014. Jones also recorded five aces at Charlotte on Nov. 17, which tied the program record for three-set matches and the third most across the conference this season.

Davenport, a preseason All-AAC selection, went out with a bang in her final season at Temple and picked up the first all-conference team recognition of her career. She ranks first overall in the AAC with 438 kills and 499.5 points while finishing second with 4.29 kills per set. The Columbia, S.C. native was named AAC Offensive Player of the Week and three times picked up weekly AAC Honorable Mention. Davenport reached double-digit kills in 22 of the 30 matches this season, and recorded 20 or more kills on five occasions, including a conference-high 33 kills at Presbyterian on Sept. 8. Davenport also had a 29-kill performance against Charlotte in the season finale, and totaled 27 kills against New Hampshire.

Davenport finished her Temple career sixth overall with 1,552 kills across her five years. Davenport's 438 kills this past season stands fifth in school history since the 25-point reformat in 2008. She now ranks fourth, fifth, and eighth on the single-year list.

Greene was an integral piece of Temple's offense all season, totaling 194 kills to rank third on the team in the category. She also made her presence known on defense, with her 45.0 blocks ranking fourth on the team. She recorded double-digit kills on four occasions, with her season high of 15 coming in a three-set win over Tulane.

2024 American Athletic Association Volleyball Postseason Awards
Player of the Year
Maria Clara Andrade, Jr., OH, South Florida

Libero of the Year
Marta Pecalli, Sr., Tulsa

Setter of the Year
Caroline Dykes, Sr., South Florida*

Freshman of the Year
Sydney Jones, OH, Temple

Coach of the Year
Jolene Shepardson, South Florida

First Team All-Conference
Jorda Crook, So., OPP, UAB
Fran McBride, Gr., RS, East Carolina
Samarah Hill, Gr., OH, Rice
Lademi Ogunlana, Jr., MB, Rice
Maria Clara Andrade, Jr., OH, South Florida
Caroline Dykes, Sr., S, South Florida
Naiya Sawtelle, Gr., OH, South Florida
Taylor Davenport, Gr., OH, Temple
Tytiana Johnson, Sr., MB, Tulsa
Marta Pecalli, Sr., L, Tulsa*
Morgan Stout, R-Sr., MB, Wichita State
Izzi Strand, 5^th, S, Wichita State

Second Team All-Conference
Angeles Alderete, Jr., OH, East Carolina
Victoria Hensley, Jr., S, Florida Atlantic
Katelynn Robine, Sr., OH/RS, Florida Atlantic
Hannah Jones, So., OH, Memphis
Savannah Skopal, Fr., S, Rice
Lia Schneider, So., L, South Florida
Sydney Jones, Fr., OH, Temple
Mia Soerensen, Jr., OPP, UTSA

All-Freshman Team
Abby Jones, OH, UAB
Taryn Gilreath, S, East Carolina
Tiffany Snook, MB, Memphis*
Ryann Vik, MB, North Texas
Savannah Skopal, S, Rice*
Christiana Greene, OH, Temple
Sydney Jones, OH, Temple*

*denotes unanimous selection