Sunni Sheppard Earns All-Conference Honors

HATTIESBURG, Miss.- Southern Miss sophomore libero Sunni Sheppard has made an extraordinary impact in her first season in the Sun Belt Conference, cementing her place as one of the league's top newcomers. She leads the conference in digs per set (5.21) and total digs (557)—an impressive 102 more than the next closest player—and stands out among all Sun Belt newcomers by averaging 1.11 more digs per set than the next-best newcomer.

Sheppard's contributions extend beyond defense. She led Southern Miss with 35 service aces, the fifth-highest total in the Sun Belt, and added 84 assists, showcasing her versatility and ability to impact every aspect of the game. Her defensive efficiency was exceptional, as she maintained an 83.3% dig percentage, with 67.8% of her digs staying in-system for an attack. Throughout the season, Sheppard delivered 13 matches with 20 or more digs, including four matches with 30+ digs, consistently excelling under pressure. Her performance earned her national recognition, as she ranked among the nation's best in digs per set for multiple weeks.

Sheppard also helped Southern Miss lead the Sun Belt in total digs (1,873) and digs per set (17.50). Sunni Sheppard's ability to elevate Southern Miss while leading all Sun Belt newcomers in nearly every defensive category earned her the All-Conference selection.

Southern Miss is set to play Coastal Carolina in the first round of the Sun Belt Tournament on November 21 at 4:30 p.m. in Foley, Alabama.

Below is the full list of the 2024 postseason Sun Belt volleyball awards:

2024 Sun Belt Volleyball Awards

Player of the Year: Tori Hester, Troy
Offensive Player of the Year: Tori Hester, Troy
Defensive Player of the Year: Daedrianna Cail, Arkansas State
Libero of the Year: Sarah Martinez, Arkansas State
Setter of the Year: Ryann Torres, Texas State
Newcomer of the Year: Daedrianna Cail, Arkansas State
Freshman of the Year: Elise Marchal, App State
Coach of the Year: Brian Gerwig, Arkansas State

First-Team All-Sun Belt
Maya Winterhoff, App State
Daedrianna Cail, Arkansas State
Sarah Martinez, Arkansas State
Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina
Reagan Barth, Georgia Southern
Brenya Reid, James Madison
Abryanna Cannon, South Alabama
Anna Loberg, South Alabama
Jade Defraeye, Texas State
Ryann Torres, Texas State
Smanatha Wunsch, Texas State
Tori Hester, Troy

Second-Team All-Sun Belt
Addison Heidemann, App State
Ava Leahy, App State
Elise Marchal, App State
Kaitlin Whitlock, Arkansas State
Ashlyn Lovett, Georgia Southern
Kirsten Barrett, Georgia Southern
Annie Smith, James Madison
Cami Hicks, Louisiana
Mio Yamamoto, Louisiana
Myah Conway, Old Dominion
Sarah Gooch, South Alabama
Sunni Sheppard, Southern Miss

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Sunni Sheppard Earns All-Conference Honors

Players Mentioned

Sunni Sheppard

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