File PhotoValdosta State's Kayla Widera celebrates a point against Auburn Montgomery at The Complex on Oct. 23.

Valdosta State junior middle blocker Kayla Widera was named to the All-Gulf South Conference second team Tuesday.

Widera became the first Blazer to earn an all-conference accolade since 2016, when Susanna Peonia earned first-team honors. It’s Widera’s first career all-conference honor, as she is hitting .239 on the year among starters. She has 216 kills for third on the team in 566 attempts, while recording 12 and is tied for third on the team in service aces with 22. The Trinity, Fla., native has 87 digs with a team-high 107 blocks and 32 solo blocks.

She earned GSC Defensive Player of the Week honors once this season for the Blazers. Widera is sixth in the GSC in blocks and seventh in blocks per set at an 0.90 clip.

For the rest of the all-conference teams, Jessica Akiona of West Alabama was named freshman of the year, while Kassie Till of West Alabama was named setter of the year. MaKaya Beebe of Lee was named libero of the year and Lee’s Silvia Sartori was named GSC Player of the Week. West Alabama coach Alexis Meeks was named coach of the year.

League champion West Florida led the way with three selections on the first team, while Alabama-Huntsville, Lee and West Alabama had two selections on the first team each. West Alabama and West Florida each had four total selections combined on both teams to lead the way. Of the specialty awards, West Alabama had three and Lee had two.

The Blazers qualified as the No. 5 seed in the upcoming GSC Championship, scheduled for Friday-Sunday at top-seeded West Florida. The Blazers will face No. 4-seed Montevallo in the first round beginning at 5 p.m. Nov. 9.

Fans can access links to live stats, ticket information and streaming at vstateblazers.com on the women’s volleyball schedule page.