HAVERFORD, Pa. - Haverford standout sophomore middle blocker Taylor Jones has been selected to the PhillySIDA Academic All-Area team, the organization announced in a release on Wednesday. Jones adds the award to a bevy of postseason honors thus far in 2022. The Yorba Linda, Calif. Product is the eighth member of the Haverford volleyball program to be named Academic All-Area by PhillySIDA.
Last month, Jones became the 12th AVCA All-American in program history, and previously picked up Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors from the Centennial Conference earlier this week, posted a breakout sophomore season in 2022. She earned her second All-Centennial Conference nod in as many seasons after leading the conference in hitting percentage (.387), and finishing second in blocks per set (0.99) and third in total blocks (86).
Haverford's primary blocker finished the season ranked 17th in Division III for hitting percentage, and 47th in blocks per set. Jones' .387 hitting percentage was also the second-best all-time in Haverford program history, behind just Steph Frank's 2000 season in which she tallied a .388 percentage for the Fords.
Jones picked up the inaugural CC Defensive Player of the Week honors right out of the gates as Haverford sprinted out to a hot start to anchor through the first weekend of the season. Jones added 21 total blocks in four matches at the Haverford Invitational, picking up tournament MVP honors in the process as the Fords went 3-1 to start the season, with wins over Cabrini, Stockton, and New Jersey City.
This season, Jones had five or more blocks on five different occasions, including a season-best 10 rejections against Cortland on September 10. Proving to be a two-way force, Jones also rattled off 10 or more kills in six different matches, including a season-best 15 in an upset win over nationally-ranked Susquehanna on September 9.
The Academic All-Area Team is voted on by the sports information offices of 30 area institutions from the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30 to be eligible.