Dawson Named ASUN Preseason Setter Of The Year, Newbold Earns All-ASUN Honors
8/26/2026 12:55:00 PM | Volleyball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Atlantic Sun Conference announced Wednesday that University of North Florida Volleyball sophomore setter Sofia Dawson was named Preseason Setter of the Year. Sophomore opposite Kendall Newbold earned a spot on the Preseason All-ASUN Team.
Dawson played in all 31 matches and appeared in 124 sets in 2025. The Atlanta, Ga., native ranked fifth in the ASUN in assists and seventh in assists per set last season. Dawson led the team in assists, assists per set, sets played and aces in 2025. She recorded 30 assists or more in nine matches, 40 or more in four matches and 50 or more twice.
Dawson was named ASUN Setter of the Week on Nov. 3, 2025, after posting a career-high 57 assists to go with 14 digs, two aces and four kills on .333 hitting against Jacksonville on Oct. 30. She tallied a career-high 24 digs to go with 41 assists against Stetson on Nov. 14, 2025.
The sophomore setter, Dawson, averaged 10.1 assists per set from North Florida's match against JU on Oct. 30 and to its match against North Alabama on Nov. 2 last season.
Newbold played in all 31 matches and appeared in 121 sets. The Atlanta, Ga., native received 2025 ASUN All-Freshman Team honors. Newbold led the team in total attacks, kills, points per set and kills per set last season. She posted 10 kills or more in 17 matches and led the team in kills in 14 matches.
Newbold earned All-Tournament recognition in two of North Florida's four in-season tournaments in 2025. She was named ASUN Freshman of the Week on Sept. 29, 2025, following back-to-back matches with 10 or more kills at West Georgia on Sept. 26 and at Queens on Sept. 28.
Newbold posted career highs with 45 total attacks, 18 kills and two aces at Stetson on Oct. 26, 2025. She registered a career-high eight blocks to go with 12 kills in the ASUN Championship quarterfinal against Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 20.
North Florida opens its season at Stegeman Coliseum in the Classic City Clash at Georgia on Friday, Aug. 28, at 10:30 a.m. ET.
