Atlanta, Georgia-Edward Waters women's volleyball returning sophomore and reigning SIAC Women's Volleyball Player of the Year Fatima Ramirez will add another award to her mantle as she was selected as the SIAC. Women's Volleyball Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Additionally, fellow returning sophomore and the reigning SIAC Women's Volleyball Setter of the Year Mataiya Barber was honored as a Preseason First Team All-SIAC selection, the conference announced on Friday afternoon.



Ramirez, a native of Belize, led the conference in kills with 381 last season and led Edward Waters to its first East Division Championship title. Additionally, the outside hitter has collected 3.49 kills per set, 295 digs (2.71 digs per set), 37.0 blocks, 36 service aces, and 14 assists in 109 sets played. Last season, Ramirez earned the Tigers' first Player of the Year honor since EWU's transition into the SIAC. Ramirez was also a First Team All-Division II South Region selection from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association. The preseason honor is the first preseason award for an Edward Waters women's volleyball player since 2017, when former Lady Tiger standout Kaylin Davison earned the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Preseason Women's Volleyball Player of the Year honor.



Barber, a native of Denton, Texas, also had a memorable first season at Edward Waters last season, racking up 833 assists, 209 digs, 57 kills, 25 service aces, and 17.0 blocks in 92 sets played. Barber also ranked second in the conference in assists in 2022 as well.

2023 SIAC Women's Volleyball Preseason Awards
 

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year	Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Fatima Ramirez, Edward Waters	Mikayla Boyer, Spring Hill

 

First Team
Name	Position	Classification	School	Hometown
Kyra Gaston	Outside Hitter	Sophomore	Lane	Detroit, MI
Destinee Langston	Outside Hitter	Senior	Savannah State	Fayetteville, GA
Fatima Ramirez	Outside Hitter	Junior	Edward Waters	Belmopan, Belize
Khamari Trotter	Middle Hitter	Sophomore	Albany State	Kathleen, GA
Airyonna Weaver	Middle Hitter	Junior	Spring Hill	Mobile, AL
Mikayla Boyer	Libero	Graduate Student	Spring Hill	Covington, LA
Mataiya Barber	Setter	Sophomore	Edward Waters	Denton, TX

 

Second Team
Name	Position	Classification	School	Hometown
Shynique McGee	Outside Hitter	Junior	Clark Atlanta	Atlanta, GA
Raven Edwards	Outside Hitter	Junior	Fort Valley State	Merrillville, IN
Sydney Melton	Outside Hitter	Junior	Albany State	Hoover, AL
Allena Norton	Middle Hitter	Sophomore	Savannah State	Chapin, S.C.
Kaiah Green	Middle Hitter	Senior	Benedict	Albuquerque, NM
Kloe Ludy	Libero	Junior	Savannah State	Lafayette, Ga.
Jessica Fairly	Setter	Junior	Spring Hill	Ft. Walton Beach, FL

 
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