ALBANY, Ga. — The Albany State University women's volleyball program earned three major recognitions as the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) announced its 2026 Women's Volleyball All-Conference honors on Tuesday, November 10.
Head Coach Verniece Graham was named SIAC Coach of the Year, while senior outside hitter Jarianis Perez earned First Team All-SIAC honors and senior middle blocker Shaniya Banks received Second Team All-SIAC recognition.
The honors follow an impressive regular season for the Lady Golden Rams, who closed conference play with a 15-match winning streak and established themselves as one of the SIAC's top programs.
Graham Earns Coach of the Year Recognition
Graham's Coach of the Year recognition highlights her leadership in guiding Albany State through an outstanding 2026 campaign.
Under her direction, the Lady Golden Rams developed into one of the conference's most competitive teams, putting together a 15-match winning streak while demonstrating resilience, discipline and teamwork throughout conference play.
Graham's leadership has also played a significant role in the development of Albany State's student-athletes, with several players delivering career milestones and standout performances throughout the season.
Perez Named First Team All-SIAC
Perez, a senior outside hitter from Jacksonville, Florida, earned First Team All-SIAC honors after another impressive campaign leading the Lady Golden Rams' offensive attack.
The senior has recorded 348 kills across 111 sets, averaging 3.14 kills per set while posting a .266 hitting percentage. Perez has also contributed defensively, averaging 2.90 digs per set, while producing 0.41 service aces per set.
A consistent force on both sides of the net, Perez entered the season as a First Team Preseason All-SIAC selection and continued to demonstrate why she is among the conference's premier outside hitters.
During the season, Perez also reached significant career milestones, becoming Albany State's all-time points leader while continuing to make her mark in the program's record books.
Her offensive production, defensive contributions and veteran leadership have been instrumental in helping the Lady Golden Rams establish themselves as a conference contender.
Banks Earns Second Team All-SIAC Honors
Senior middle blocker Shaniya Banks, a native of Conyers, Georgia, earned Second Team All-SIAC recognition following an impressive campaign in the middle for Albany State.
Banks has recorded 206 kills across 112 sets, averaging 1.84 kills per set while posting an outstanding .353 hitting percentage. Defensively, she has averaged 0.74 blocks per set, providing a strong presence at the net for the Lady Golden Rams.
Her efficiency on offense and ability to challenge opposing attackers have made her an important part of Albany State's success throughout the season.
As one of the team's senior leaders, Banks has helped strengthen the Lady Golden Rams' front line while providing consistency and experience during their impressive winning streak.
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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 12 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, baseball, and football, with all teams competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).
