Frisco, Texas – Three Texas State volleyball players landed on All-Southland Conference Volleyball Teams as released by the conference office on Wednesday. Senior AJ Watlington and freshman Amari Deardorff were each voted to the All-SLC First Team, while junior Amber Calhoun earned All-SLC Second Team accolades.

The Bobcats received two first team selections for the second consecutive year as both Watlington and Deardorff made their first career first team all-conference appearance. Calhoun, an All-SLC First Team selection a season ago, made her second career appearance on an all-conference team.

“The three Bobcats honored in the SLC All-Conference awards are very deserving,” said head coach Karen Chisum. “They have been surrounded by great teammates and represent us all very well.”

Watlington, the fourth-leading vote-getter in the conference, is the Texas State team leader in kills with 272. She has also posted 191 digs and 47 blocks for the Bobcats this season. During conference play, Watlington averaged 2.96 kills per set and hit .257. A right side and outside hitter from Aledo, Texas, Watlington posted six double-doubles during the regular season, including a 20-kill, 16-dig performance against Texas Tech in which she set career highs in both categories.

A two-time SLC All-Tournament Team selection, including being named the MVP of the 2007 SLC Tournament, Watlington earned Preseason All-SLC Second Team honors entering this season. The senior increased her production nearly across the board during the 2010 season, setting career highs for kills, hitting percentage and digs while also serving as one of the team's primary passers in serve reception.

“AJ has raised some eyebrows in the conference in her four years, and I'm so pleased that she has received the recognition that she has,” Chisum said. “She has improved greatly over her four years and has been quite a consistent force for the Bobcats this season.”

Deardorff, the runner-up in the SLC Freshman of the Year voting, ranked fourth in the conference in hitting percentage (.328) and was one of just six Southland Conference players to hit over .300 for the year during the regular season. She has posted 200 kills, the second highest mark on the team, along with 59 digs and 52 blocks this season.

After beginning the season with three consecutive matches of at least six kills and a .300 hitting percentage, Deardorff flourished during the SMU Invitational when she was named to the all-tournament team after recording 41 kills over three matches for the Bobcats. During the tournament, she had a personal-best 20-kill performance against UC Davis in which she hit .421, the first of seven double-digit kill performances for the Austin, Texas native. During conference play, Deardorff was even more impressive as she ranked second in the SLC with a .361 hitting percentage.

“Amari has been a force for us all season long,” Chisum said. “This is a huge honor for any freshman – only two were recognized in the all-conference selections. I'm very excited that Amari has three more seasons with us.”

Calhoun, a middle blocker from Houston, Texas, finished the regular season in the top-5 in the conference in both hitting percentage and blocks. She improved upon her 2009 stats as she posted the third best hitting percentage (.336) and fourth most blocks per set (1.15) in the Southland Conference in 2010. She has already set career highs for kills (184), blocks (110) and digs (61), and she is on pace to do the same in hitting percentage.

A Preseason All-SLC First Team selection, Calhoun earned SLC Offensive Player of the Week honors during the third week of the season after she was named to the CenturyLink Premier All-Tournament Team. She hit .500-or-higher in three of the team's four matches during that week, including a then-career-high 13 kill performance against North Texas in which she hit .619. Calhoun also set a career high for blocks earlier this season against Sam Houston State when she tallied 10 stuffs.

“Amber has been slowed somewhat this year with a foot injury, but she has worked hard and performed well for us,” Chisum said.

Central Arkansas senior Chloe Smith was named the 2010 Southland Conference Volleyball Player of the Year for the third consecutive season. Joining Smith on the awards list was teammate Marissa Collins, who was selected freshman and newcomer of the year. UCA Coach Steven McRoberts received coach of the year honors. UTSA junior Kelsey Jewasko was named libero of the year for the second time in the last three seasons. Lamar sophomore Christina Hobbs was named newcomer of the year.

The 2010 All-Southland Conference Volleyball teams are comprised of 12 first team and six second team members. Teams are chosen by vote of the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The recipients are placed by the number of votes received.

The 2010 Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament gets underway Friday in Huntsville, Texas, with four first-round matches. The semifinals will be held Saturday with the championship match being played Sunday at 3 p.m. CST on the Southland Conference Television Network.

2010 All-Southland Conference Volleyball Teams

²Two-time all-conference
³Three-time all-conference
⁴Four-time all-conference

Honorable Mention: Taylor Hammonds, Central Arkansas; Christina Hobbs, Lamar; Katie Kennedy, McNeese State; Becky Bekelja, McNeese State; Laranda Spann, Northwestern State; Kaylee Hawkins, Sam Houston State; Kim Black, Sam Houston State; Whitney Walls, UTSA; Briana Mason, UTSA.