[Volleyball] Four Volleyball Falcons Receive All-KCAC Recognition

WICHITA, Kan. – Friends University junior setter Jana Boston has earned a first-team All-KCAC honor, while three more Falcons are also all-conference selections, the league announced today (Nov. 8). Senior Madalyn Swinicki is a second-team pick, with senior Olivia Naccarato and sophomore Tiffany Hurd earning honorable-mention nods.

"We have a lot of great young women in our program and it was great to see my fellow KCAC coaches recognize our athletes for their efforts on the court this season," Friends head coach Martin Ayin said.

Boston, the 2016 KCAC Freshman of the Year, put together her finest season as a Falcon.

The Newton, Kan. native became the Falcons' all-time leader in assists this season and finished with a career-best 1302 assists that put her second in the KCAC. Boston eclipsed the 50 assist mark four times this season, highlighted by a career-high 59 in a 3-2 victory over Dakota Wesleyan University (Oct. 19).

Swinicki was an efficient attacker all season for Friends, ranking third in the KCAC in hitting percentage (.321) while also finishing second on the team with a career-high 311 kills. Her impact wasn't limited to her offensive production, as Swinicki posted a team-high 114 blocks that ranks third in the league.

A Wichita product, Swinicki's best game this season came against Oklahoma Wesleyan University, the Falcons' upcoming KCAC tournament opponent. She recorded a career-high tying 19 kills along with a .472 hitting percentage in the 3-2 victory over OKWU.

Naccarato also bested her single-season best output with 253 kills this season, including a career-best 17 kills in a narrow loss to top-seeded and 17-ranked McPherson College (Sept. 29).

A Mulvane, Kan. native, Naccarato was also big defensively, coming in right behind Swinicki in fourth place in the KCAC with 111 blocks on the season.

Hurd, a sophomore from Gilbert, Ariz., finished fourth on the team with 251 kills.  She also ensured the Falcons sported a dominant defensive trio, ranking third on the team and eighth in the KCAC with 100 blocks.

The Falcons are set to face OKWU tomorrow afternoon (Nov. 9) in the KCAC tourney.  The match is set to begin at 2:30 at the Hutchinson Sports Arena in Hutchinson, Kan.