Mullins Earns AVCA National Honor - Pink Out Tonight at The Hangar

Sandhills Community College libero Lainey Mullins has been named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Women's Two-year College Player of the Week.

The AVCA release states: "Mullins helped the Flyers to three victories on the week, which extended the team's winning streak to 13. The sophomore averaged 6.7 digs per set last week and currently is second nationally in digs. Against Central Carolina, she had a season-high 31 digs, then she added 23 digs against USC Lancaster".

Coach Alicia Riggan's squad is ranked No. 5 in NJCAA Division III this week and takes a 22-4 overall and 3-0 mark in Region 10 into tonight's 6 p.m. conference match against a Central Carolina CC squad with a record of 3-9 and 2-4.

The Hangar will be all decked out in pink for the team's annual Pink Out Game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of people with cancer as well as cancer survivors and pink balls will be thrown out.

A sophomore and Pinecrest High School alum, Mullins was also recognized as the NJCAA Division III Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. She is 47 digs away from 1,000 in her career at Sandhills.

An All-Region 10 selection as a freshman, Riggan describes Mullins as a quiet leader who works hard in practice and wants extra reps in an effort to get better.

"Lainey is quick, she's competitive and she stands out in all areas," her coach says. "She's a great teammate, calm, even keel and a quiet leader".

Tied at the top of Region 10 with Caldwell Tech, the Lady Flyers head into a busy stretch of conference play, including away matches against host Patrick and Henry and Rockingham CC in a tri-match in Martinsville, VA on Friday.

Last Saturday's scheduled home match against Caldwell was postponed due to that team's travel problems related to Hurricane Helene. It has been rescheduled for this coming Monday at 6 p.m. at The Hangar.

C. Bergmann