UAM TRIO EARNS ALL-GAC HONORS

Volleyball All-GAC

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. –Katie Pearson, Katelyn Richbourg, and Faith Wilemon earned All-Great American Conference recognition after leading the University of Arkansas at Monticello to the four seed in the Eastern Division for the GAC Tournament. The trio was named All-GAC honorable mention, the league office announced Wednesday.

Pearson put together a stellar senior campaign to garner her All-GAC honorable mention selection. The Kansas City, Missouri native finished the regular season fifth in the conference in total assists with 368 and fifth in assists per set with 9.68. She moved into fourth in UAM history in career assists after posting 36 in the Blossoms first round match against Ouachita Baptist giving her 1,299 during her time at UAM. She collected her 1,000th career assist in a win over Southern Arkansas on February 23. Pearson also ranks second in program history averaging 9.21 assists per second in her career. She earned GAC Setter of the Week twice during the season including after setting a career-high in assists with 56 against SAU in the final match of the regular season.

Defensively, the senior was third on the team with 122 digs averaging 2.90 per set.

Richbourg garnered her All-GAC honorable mention award following a season in which she led the Blossoms in digs with 261 and digs per set 6.21. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Magnolia, Texas native was third in the conference in digs per set at 5.87 and fourth in total digs with 227. The junior also earned GAC Defensive Player of the Week following a win over Ouachita Baptist February 9 in which she tallied a program-best and career-high 41 digs averaging 10.25 per set.

On offense, Richbourg was second on the team with 31 assists and tied for third with nine service aces on the season.

Wilemon earned All-GAC honorable mention after bursting on the scene with a strong freshman season for the Blossoms. The Spring, Texas native led UAM in kills with 112 and points with 119.5 while ranking second in kills per set at 2.71. She finished the regular season 12th in the GAC averaging 2.74 kills per set and 20th in points per set with 2.89.

The freshman also contributed on defense finishing fourth on the team with 10 blocks.

The trio contributed to the Blossoms earning home court advantage in the first round of the GAC Tournament as the four seed out of the Eastern Division. They also helped UAM earn its first win in the GAC Tournament since joining the league in 2011 after defeating Ouachita Baptist in the first round Tuesday.