NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Five Vanderbilt student-athletes have been named to the preseason All-Southeastern Conference coaches’ preseason watch list, the league announced Tuesday. Nia Dorsey, Haley Hopkins, Grace Jackson, Myra Konte and Ella Shamburger each were recognized.
Hopkins also was named to the preseason watch list for the Hermann Trophy, given annually to the national player of the year. She is coming off an impressive freshman campaign in which she became the eighth Commodore named All-America.
Hopkins led the Commodores in points (35) and goals (14) while ranking first and second in the SEC in those categories, respectively. She also ranked second in the SEC in points (17) and goals (7) during league play.
The 2018 SEC Freshman of the Year was also named to the Southeast Region first team, All-SEC first team and the All-SEC Freshman team. Hopkins was also the recipient of two SEC Freshman of the Week honors and one SEC Offensive Player of the Week honor.
Jackson earned a spot on the All-SEC first team and the All-Southeast Region second team. The senior midfielder was third on the Commodores in points (12) and goals (5). She has started and played in 62 straight games throughout her Commodore career.
Dorsey was named to the All-SEC and All-Southeast Region second teams, and Shamburger was a part of the All-SEC freshman team and All-Southeast Region second team. Dorsey and Shamburger each logged three assists in 2018.
Dorsey, Konte and Shamburger were part of one of the best defenses in Commodore history that allowed just 14 goals in 21 games.
Konte scored the game-tying goal against Miami in 2018 for her first career collegiate goal. She was also a part of the 2017 SEC All-Freshman team.
Vanderbilt begins the 2019 campaign on Thursday by playing host to Georgia State at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex. Admission to the game is free and the contest will be streamed on SEC Network+.
