BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Alabama State had six players selected to the preseason all-conference team including the Blocker of the Year, announced by the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) office on Friday afternoon.
 
Jada Rhodes and Taila Gaines were each picked to the First Team on a vote of the league's head coaches and communication professionals. Rhodes, a Second-Team selection at the end of the 2022 season played in 116 sets and recorded a team-high 359 kills. She averaged 3.09 kills per set while hitting .218. She recorded five or more kills 25 times including double-digit kills 18 times. Rhodes recorded 15 or more kills 10 times, including four matches with 20-plus kills. She posted a season-high 23 on the road against Florida A&M.
 
Meanwhile, Gaines was named to the First Team and was also selected as the preseason Blocker of the Year in the conference after a year in which she was all-conference at Jackosn State. She recorded five or more kills nine times including a season-high eight against Southeast Missouri State. She also hit .700 or better twice, while also recording four or more blocks six different times including a season-high seven against Texas Southern.
 
Alabama State also had four players named to the second team including A'Nylah Cobb at outside hitter/right side hitter. She was named all-conference after the 2022 season after playing in 86 sets and recording 202 kills. She averaged 2.35 kills per set and hit .238 on the season. Cobb also finished with 107 digs, averaging 1.24 per set. She was joined by Temperance Chatman as the defensive specialist/libero after earning all-conference honors in 2022 with a team-high 454 digs. She averaged 3.69 digs per set and added 77 assists in 123 sets played.
 
The Lady Hornets had a pair of setters named to the second team including Emily Brooks and  Madison Beasley. Brooks earned all-conference honors last season after playing 108 sets. She recorded 468 assists, averaging 4.33 assists per set, and also recorded 34 service. Brooks finished the year with 139 digs, averaging 1.29 digs per set. Meanwhile, Beasley earned the nod after playing 88 sets, recording 485 assists. She averaged 5.51 assists per set and also recorded 116 digs, averaging 1.32 per set.
 
The Lady Hornets were also picked to finish second in the preseason poll with 149 total votes and five first-place votes. They were picked to finish behind only Florida A&M and were picked ahead of Jackson State (third) and Bethune-Cookman (fourth).
 
Alabama State opens the season on the road against Cincinnati on Friday, Aug, 25 at 6 pm in the Tribute to #10.
 
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