NEW ORLEANS – Georgia Southern fifth-year senior Emily Jarome has been named the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and first-team All-Sun Belt, the league announced today.

Jarome averaged 4.07 kills per set in conference play, which ranked seventh in the Sun Belt, and she ranked eighth in SBC action in points per set with 4.54. She totaled double-figure kills in 13 of the Eagles' 14 league matches with two 20-plus kill performances against conference opposition. She reached double figures in kills in 19 matches overall and registered nine double-doubles in kills and digs. A three-time All-CAA selection at Towson before transferring to Georgia Southern, Jarome becomes the first player in school history to be named Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year.

The Eagles take on Southern Miss in the second round of the Sun Belt Tournament Thursday at 3:30 p.m. ET in the Foley Sports Complex in Foley, Alabama. The winner of the match advances to the quarterfinals to face regular-season champion James Madison Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

2022 Sun Belt Volleyball Awards
Sun Belt Player of the Year: Emily DeWalt, Texas State
Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year: Janell Fitzgerald, Texas State
Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year: Sophie Davis, James Madison
Sun Belt Setter of the Year: Emily DeWalt, Texas State
Sun Belt Libero of the Year: Rachel Hickey, South Alabama
Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year: Emily Jarome, Georgia Southern
Sun Belt Freshman of the Year: Maya Winterhoff, App State
Sun Belt Coach of the Year: Lauren Steinbrecher, James Madison

2022 All-Sun Belt Conference Teams
First Team All-Sun Belt
Ella Saada, Coastal Carolina
Emily Jarome, Georgia Southern
Sophie Davis, James Madison
Miëtte Veldman, James Madison
Myah Conway, Old Dominion
Rachel Hickey, South Alabama
Hannah Maddux, South Alabama
Mia Wesley, Southern Miss
Emily DeWalt, Texas State
Janell Fitzgerald, Texas State
Amara Anderson, Troy
Tori Hester, Troy

Second Team All-Sun Belt
McCall Denny, App State
Maya Winterhoff, App State
Lina Perugini, Coastal Carolina
Caroline Dozier, James Madison
Cami Hicks, Louisiana
Lydia Montague, Marshall
Niki Capizzi, South Alabama
Kailey Keeble, South Alabama
Cara Atkinson, Southern Miss
Jada Gardner, Texas State
Lauren Teske, Texas State
Julia Brooks, Troy