SHAWNEE, Okla. – SWOSU Volleyball had four players earn All-Great American Conference honors, announced at Wednesday's awards banquet ahead of the GAC Tournament.

Hailey Smith headlined the four on the first team. Katja Blanchat earned second team honors, while Jada Permenter and Mackenzie Sims both were named honorable mentions. 

Academically, Cameron Turner became a two-time GAC Elite Scholar Award winner – given to those holding the highest GPA in the conference with at least 70 hours of completed classwork. Six other Bulldogs were placed on the Academic Honor Roll, earned by holding a minimum 3.5 GPA with one year of full-time college residency completed. Those included: Jenna Houk, Libbie Hughs, Paris Patterson, Jada Permenter, Morgan Ritchie and Hailey Smith.

Hailey Smith (Prosper, Texas) secured first team recognition for the first time in her career. She played a key role in anchoring a SWOSU defense that ranked among the best in the conference, holding opponents to a .149 hitting percentage — tied for the top mark in the GAC. Smith finished the regular season with 280 kills, averaging 2.75 per set. She also recorded 100 total blocks, a mark that ranks 74th nationally and sixth in the GAC. Across the season, she delivered 17 double-digit kill performances, including four straight heading into the GAC Tournament.

Katja Blanchat (Lindsborg, Kansas) earned second team honors, becoming one of only two freshmen to make the second team. Blanchat has totaled 125 blocks during the 2025 campaign, the third-highest single-season mark in SWOSU history. Nationally, she ranks 11th in blocks per set at 1.33 and 10th in total blocks, while leading the GAC in both categories. She had 18 games with at least five blocks to her name with her season high coming against Lubbock Christian with eight.

Jada Permenter (Amarillo, Texas) earned conference recognition for the second time in her career after being named Freshman of the Year and an honorable mention selection in 2023. She collected another honorable mention nod this season behind a standout defensive campaign, finishing with 525 digs and 5.15 digs per set — both ranking fourth in the GAC. Permenter recorded 11 matches with 20 or more digs, including a career-high 37 against ECU in just four sets. She also added at least three assists in 15 matches throughout the year.

Mackenzie Sims (Amarillo, Texas) earned an honorable mention selection at setter. Despite not starting during the first half of the season, she still totaled 493 assists and ranked fourth in the GAC in assists per set. After stepping into the starting role midway through the year, she averaged 10.04 assists per set — a pace that would lead the conference by nearly half an assist. Across her last four matches, she recorded at least 40 assists each time, highlighted by a four-set program record of 56 assists against Southeastern. She and fellow freshman Katja Blanchat were two of the three freshmen in the conference to earn All-Conference recognition.

2025 All-Great American Conference Volleyball Teams (pdf)

GAC Player of the Year: Katilyn Steffes, OH, Henderson State
GAC Defensive Player of the Year: Kaylon Partain, L, Henderson State
GAC Setter of the Year: Courtney Hanson, Ouachita Baptist
GAC Newcomer of the Year: Erika Hernandez, MH, Arkansas Tech
GAC Coach of the Year: Allison Frizzell, Ouachita Baptist