AUGUSTA, Ga. | Georgia College & State University volleyball player Alanis Bernis has been named the Peach Belt Conference's Co-Libero/Defensive Specialist of the Year presented by College Ave.

Bernis becomes the fifth Bobcat to earn one of the league's major awards in program history and the first to be named a Libero/Defensive Specialist of the Year.

"We are so proud of Alanis and this achievement," said GCSU head coach Abigail King. "Her work ethic, attitude, and mindset have allowed her to achieve this and make our gym better every single day. She is a huge key to our program and she is so deserving!"

The junior from Auburn, Georgia, leads the PBC in total digs (437) and is second in digs per set (4.12). Bernis is also fifth in the PBC in service aces per set (0.36). She had six matches in 2024 with 20 or more digs including a season-high 28 against Emmanuel (Ga.) University. She is currently ranked fifth in program history with 1,124 career digs.

Bernis shares the award with the University of South Carolina-Aiken's Sadie McKay.

About GCSU Athletics 
Owning the top Academic Success Rate among all public colleges and universities in Division II for three consecutive academic years, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won four consecutive Presidents' Awards for Academic Excellence, and are two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup and four-time winners of the PBC Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' continued appearances in postseason competition as well as high-level academic success and community-service involvement. Bobcat Athletics embodies the mantra of "Graduating Champions for Life." Sign up at @GCSUBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports or subscribe to the GSCU Athletics e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and to interact with GCSU Athletics.