Ayala and Sheffield Claim All-Region Distinction
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Madison Sheffield and Kariana Ayala of No. 15 Santa Fe Volleyball have added to their list of accolades, after being selected as part of the NJCAA All-Region VIII Team on Wednesday afternoon.
The complete list of honorees have now been released on the FCSAA site at the link provided at the conclusion of this release.
Sheffield and Ayala have been instrumental for No. 15 Santa Fe (15-2, 6-0 MFC), the Mid-Florida Conference Champions. In addition to the All-Region awards, each of them received First Team All-Conference honors from the Mid-Florida Conference, with Sheffield being named the Player of the Year.
The sophomore outside hitter from Jacksonville, Fla. and Bartram Trail High School has found the floor for double-digit kills in nine of the 17 matches so far for the Saints, and averages a team-high 3.64 kills/set to rank No. 4 in the FCSAA and No. 20 in the NJCAA Division I.
She has compiled five double-doubles on the year with kills and digs, and tied her career-high in kills for a match with 20 on two occasions, at Polk State College on Jan. 23 and at Pasco-Hernando State College on Jan. 29.
Sheffield was additionally chosen as the Region 8 Player of the Week on Jan. 26., and contributes all over the court for the Saints. No. 11 has recorded double-digit digs for SF in nine matches, and is undoubtedly a team leader that has played a key role in the Saints' success.
The sophomore from Vega Baja, Puerto Rico and graduate of The Rock School has been a standout defensive specialist for the Saints this season, playing primarily as the libero.
Ayala was selected as the Region 8 Defensive Player of the Week on March 2, then the NJCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Week on March 3.
She ranks No. 4 in the FCSAA in total digs (314) and No. 3 in digs/set (5.92), leading SF in both categories. Her 5.92 digs/set ranks No. 9 in all of the NJCAA Division I.
Ayala has been a model of consistency, recording ten or more digs in every match this season.
Her season-high dig total was 30 on Feb. 27 in a sweep of Gulf Coast State College, and she has notched 25 or more digs in three matches.
The complete list of NJCAA Region 8 award winners are included in the FCSAA release below.
Santa Fe is the No. 4 seed for the upcoming Region 8 State Tournament, which will be hosted by Florida State College at Jacksonville from March 25 - March 28. The Saints begin postseason play with a third matchup this season with the No. 5 seed, Daytona State College, on Thursday, March 25 at 1:00 p.m.