AIKEN, S.C. – University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball standout Taylor Stratton has been named the South Carolina Education Lottery USC Aiken Student-Athlete of the Month for December.
Stratton, a 5-10 senior outside hitter from Chesapeake, Va., guided the Pacers to their first-ever Elite Eight.
The NCAA Southeast Region all-tournament team selection accounted for team-high honors with 4.27 kills per set. Her 64 total kills also led the team while her .285 attack percentage was second on the squad. Stratton finished second on the team with eight total blocks and three aces while her 49 digs (3.27 digs per set) were third highest on the team.
In the NCAA Tournament opening-round match, Stratton accounted for 11 kills while hitting .333. In the regional semifinal against Armstrong State, she pounded home 17 kills while posting 12 digs for a double-double. For the match, Stratton hit .538.
Against Queens in the region championship match, she led the way with a career-high double-double performance of 23 kills and 25 digs in the five-set thriller. Stratton wrapped up her career with a 13-kill, 11 dig effort against Palm Beach Atlantic in the Elite Eight.
The South Carolina Education Lottery USC Aiken Athletic Department Student-Athlete of the Month award honors one student-athlete each month from an in-season sport for their hard work and effort. Each month during the 2016-17 athletic year one winner will be chosen from an in-season sport.
