Hays, Clark-Bibbs Named to AVCA All-Region Team

 FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas volleyball team added to its awards collection Tuesday morning with senior Meredith Hays and junior Chanell Clark-Bibbs earning spots on the AVCA All-South Region Team. Hays was named to the First Team while Clark-Bibbs earned an Honorable Mention selection. The Razorbacks have nine AVCA All-Region accolades under head coach Robert Pulliza.

With Tuesday’s announcement, Hays picks up the second AVCA All-South Region honor of her Razorback career and joins Jasmine Norton as the second multiple-time all-region performer under Pulliza. Hays and Clark-Bibbs also earned All-SEC accolades in November. As members of the All-South Region Team, both Hays and Clark-Bibbs are now in consideration for AVCA All-America honors which will be announced Dec. 17.

Hays finished her senior year averaging an SEC-leading 4.34 kills per set, which also ranks 22nd in the NCAA. With 521 kills during the 2014 campaign, she became just the eighth-ever Razorback to reach 500 kills in a single season. Her 4.34 kills per set ranks fifth on the program’s single-season list and stands as the highest by an Arkansas attacker since the 2000 season. Hays is also third in the SEC and 29th in the country with 4.79 points per set.

The Hereford, Texas, native tallied double-digit kills in 29 of 31 matches this season including 10 20-kill performances. She capped the season with a match-high 21 kills at No. 15 Kentucky and completed her 13th double-double of the year with 10 digs. Aside from her attacking prowess, Hays averaged 2.48 digs per set and finished second on the team with 21 aces.

In her first season at Arkansas, Clark-Bibbs led the team with a .337 hitting percentage which is 12th in the SEC. She ranks among the top 20 in three statistical categories in the SEC at eighth in blocks per set (1.01), 12th in hitting percentage and 18th in points per set (3.25). Clark-Bibbs finished the year second on the team with 2.52 kills per set and led the team with 24 aces.

The Houston, Texas, native reached 10 or more kills in 13 matches in 2014 including nine double-digit performances during the SEC season. Clark-Bibbs turned in a career-high 21 kills in the Razorbacks’ win at Georgia and had seven matches with 14 or more kills during the year. Defensively, she had 11 matches with five or more total blocks.

For more information about Arkansas volleyball, follow @RazorbackVB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.