She aces, she digs, she blocks, she kills and she assists.

Megan Gorey, a sociology major, finished last season with a total of 352 kills and 126 digs, earning her a Second-Team All-Gulf South Conference selection.

She made a team-high of 3.09 kills per set, led the team with 64 blocks on the year, hit .218 for the season and was the only player to start all 33 matches.

“I’m going to work hard to be named the GSC Player of the Year this season,” she said.

Gorey was the lone UNA player named to the GSC Preseason ALL-GSC Team, selected by the conference’s head coaches.

She said this year’s team has many players who are able to play multiple positions.

“We have a great group of girls who have a lot of heart,” she said.

Freshman outside hitter Lexie Bradley said Gorey is the team’s best all-around player.

Last season she showed off her versatility as a player by finishing the year with eight assists and 24 service aces.

She was named Gulf South Conference Player of the Week Oct. 7 and reached double-figures in kills 20 times, including a 20-kill performance against Christian Brothers University where she led the Lions to a 3-1 win at home.

She also clenched a double-double (scoring at least 10 in two of the five categories: aces, kills, blocks, digs or assists) against Shorter University with 11 kills and 11 digs.

Gorey said she definitely wants the team to work toward winning the conference. She also said she wants the team to play hard against University of Alabama Huntsville and University of West Florida, the Lions’ top rivals.

“I think our team can go far this year,” she said. “With players like Shantelle (Federick) and Natasha (Fomina) who play with so much heart, we can go far.”

UNA will open its season at the USI Dunn Hospitality Invitational Sept. 5-6 in Evansville, Indiana. The first home game is Sept. 9 against Christian Brothers University.