Albany, Ga. – The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) announced its 2025 Women's Volleyball Preseason All-Conference teams and predicted order of finish, and Albany State University was well represented. Junior outside hitter
Jarianis Perez was selected to the First Team All-SIAC and named the 2025 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, cementing her place as one of the league's top performers.
Perez, who earned All-Conference and All-Tournament honors in 2024, returns as one of the SIAC's most dominant offensive threats. Last season, she led the Lady Golden Rams in both kills and total points, establishing herself as a consistent and dynamic scorer at the net. Her ability to change the momentum of matches and deliver in key moments made her a standout, and she looks poised to elevate her game even further this year.
Under the leadership of Head Coach Verniece Graham, who has guided the program to continued growth and success, the Lady Golden Rams were also selected as the preseason favorites to finish first in the SIAC Eastern Division. The prediction reflects the confidence in Albany State's returning core, including Perez, and the depth of talent that will take the court this fall.
Coach Graham expressed excitement about the recognition but emphasized the team's focus on the work ahead. "It's always an honor to have our players and program recognized in the preseason," Graham said. "But we know these rankings and awards don't win matches. Our goal is to continue building, competing at a high level every day, and proving ourselves once the season begins."
The Lady Golden Rams open the 2025 season on September 5 and will look to build on the momentum of last year while chasing another championship-caliber campaign.
| FIRST TEAM |
| POSITION |
NAME |
SCHOOL |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| Outside Hitter |
Jarianis Perez* |
Albany State |
Junior |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
| Outside Hitter |
Savannah Everett* |
Savannah State |
Senior |
Colorado Springs, Colo. |
| Outside Hitter |
Alexis Simpson* |
Edward Waters |
R-Senior |
Caledonia, Minn. |
| Middle Blocker |
Kyra Gaston* |
Lane |
Senior |
Detroit, Mich. |
| Middle Blocker |
Desire' Young* |
Benedict |
Junior |
Aurora, Colo. |
| Libero |
Ashlyn Whiteside* |
Spring Hill |
R-Sophomore |
Fairhope, Ala. |
| Setter |
Amiyah Walker |
Savannah State |
Sophomore |
Pleasant Grove, Ala. |
| – * RETURNING 2024 ALL-SIAC SELECTION |
|
| SECOND TEAM |
| POSITION |
NAME |
SCHOOL |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| Outside Hitter |
Zahra Coates |
Central State |
Senior |
Pflugerville, Texas |
| Outside Hitter |
Dakotah Holmes |
Fort Valley State |
Sophomore |
Hampton, Ga. |
| Outside Hitter |
Sawyer Arbuckle |
Clark Atlanta |
Sophomore |
DeSoto, Texas |
| Middle Blocker |
Madison Spells |
Clark Atlanta |
Senior |
Dickinson, Texas |
| Middle Blocker |
Randi Neal |
Kentucky State |
Graduate |
Baltimore, Md. |
| Libero |
Nakayla James |
Clark Atlanta |
Junior |
Altamonte Springs, Fla. |
| Setter |
Willow Alls |
Benedict |
Junior |
Pickerington, Ohio |
|
| PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR |
| NAME |
SCHOOL |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| Jarianis Perez |
Albany State |
Junior |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
|
| PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR |
| NAME |
SCHOOL |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN |
| Ashlyn Whiteside |
Spring Hill |
R-Sophomore |
Fairhope, Ala. |
|
|
|
|
|
| PREDICTED ORDERS OF FINISH (BY DIVISION) |
|
|
|
| EAST DIVISION |
|
|
|
| 1. Albany State |
|
|
|
| 2. Savannah State |
|
|
|
| 3. Fort Valley State |
|
|
|
| 4. Clark Atlanta |
|
|
|
| 5. Benedict |
|
|
|
| 6. Edward Waters |
|
|
|
| 7. Allen |
|
|
|
| WEST DIVISION |
|
|
|
| 1. Spring Hill |
|
|
|
| 2. Central State |
|
|
|
| 3. Lane |
|
|
|
| 4. Kentucky State |
|
|
|
| 5. Tuskegee |
|
|
|
| 6. Miles |
|
|
|
| 7. LeMoyne-Owen |
|
|
|
Stay Connected
For complete coverage of ASU Athletics, follow us on social media @asugoldenrams (Instagram), @ASUGoldenRams (Twitter), ASU Rams Nation (Facebook), or visit the official home of the Golden Rams at
www.asugoldenrams.com.
ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 11 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's track and field, women's soccer, baseball, and football with all teams compete in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), except women's soccer, which participates in the Peach Belt Conference.
