By Mark Bohannon, SAC Media Relations Office

This is the eighth in a series of articles for 2005-06 that will periodically feature student-athletes from the league's member institutions who have distinguished themselves.

Presbyterian College senior middle blocker Jasmin Brown has helped lead the Blue Hose to a 29-4 record, including an undefeated 14-0 record in conference play. The 2005 SAC Volleyball Player of the Year spoke with SAC Intern Mark Bohannon about the success of the PC volleyball team, her award, and the Food Lion SAC Volleyball Tournament.

Q: How does it feel to be recognized as the 2005 Volleyball South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year?

A: Winning this award is very exciting for me. It further establishes the strength of our volleyball team because I would not have been as successful without them. This recognition is a tremendous honor because I worked hard during the off-season, getting into better shape in order to elevate my game. Our team went through rigorous conditioning and lifting exercises to help us prepare for the upcoming season—which I had to continue during the summer—but all of the hard-work paid off in abundance.

Jasmin Brown (in blue), the SAC Volleyball Player of the Year, is high on the competitiveness of the league, and she believes PC's recent win at Newberry College was huge. Jasmin plans to pursue a legal career. Photo courtesy Presbyterian College

Q: Presbyterian College went 29-4 this season, which included a perfect 14-0 record in conference play. What are your expectations for the upcoming SAC tournament?

A: We are all pretty excited about the South Atlantic Conference tournament, especially since we were undefeated in the conference this season. However, winning the regular season conference title is not enough. Our goal is to become the 2005 SAC Volleyball Champion. Besides the excitement of winning the conference tournament, we also want to assure a spot in the Division II tournament with the automatic bid that comes along with the conference title.

Q: Do you feel any added pressure knowing that PC might need a victory in the SAC tournament to secure a bid in the Division II Women’s Volleyball tournament?

A: I suppose there is a minor element of added pressure in knowing we might need to win the SAC tournament in order to compete in the Division II tournament. Nevertheless, I have loads of confidence in our team. I believe we are incredibly strong at every position on the court, and our team is highly dedicated to victory. If we play our game during the conference tournament, we definitely have a chance to win. We all want to compete in the Regionals this year, but the first step is taking care of business within the South Atlantic Conference.

Q: You led the South Atlantic Conference in kills per game (4.12) and hitting percentage (.441) this season. What are your thoughts on these remarkable accomplishments?

A: These accomplishments are a testament to the entire team. It shows that I had a great setter throughout the course of the season. Furthermore, we have a very productive offense, which enabled us the chance to achieve all of our goals. In part, I was able to achieve these statistics because we have so many options that we can go to on the court. No individual athlete stands out; our team play as a whole is what has helped us win during the regular season and will hopefully propel us to the conference championship.

Q: What was your favorite moment from this past season?

A: My personal favorite moment from this past season was our recent win at Newberry College. This win sealed our undefeated South Atlantic Conference record, which is a truly amazing feat. Seeing our fans at a rival school also helped inspire us to victory. It’s always difficult going in and winning on the road, and accomplishing that to ensure a perfect conference record made it even more memorable.

Q: What do you enjoy most about competing in the South Atlantic Conference?

A: The South Atlantic Conference is an extraordinarily competitive conference. In addition, you really have the opportunity to get to know the athletes that you play on a whole different level. This makes for an extremely friendly competitive environment. The overall atmosphere of playing volleyball in the South Atlantic Conference is phenomenal.

Q: You are currently a senior at Presbyterian College, majoring in Political Science. What are your plans after completion of your undergraduate degree?

A: I graduate from Presbyterian in the spring of 2006 and plan on going to law school afterwards. I have been researching a few law schools, but am shifting my focus towards the new Charleston School of Law and the University of South Carolina. Hopefully I will have the opportunity to study law at one of these fine institutions upon my graduation from Presbyterian.