Miles outside hitter Karea Copeland topped off an incredible regular season by earning three big awards from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. She was named SIAC Player of the Year, All-SIAC First Team, and the Elite 16 winner when the league announced its postseason awards on Tuesday.

Copeland, from Newnan, Ga., was the conference's Preseason Player of the Year and easily lived up to the lofty expectations from before the start of the 2026 campaign. She enters the SIAC Championship tournament leading all of Division II with 526 kills and 599.5 points, is fourth in the country with 4.31 kills per set and fifth in points per set (4.91) . She also has 302 digs, 50 blocks (seven solo) and 44 service aces. Copeland compiled the most kills in 3-set (20) and 4-set (29) matches this season in the SIAC. She also had 16 double-doubles and at least 10 kills in 31 of the Lady Bears 34 matches.

For her athletic efforts, Copeland was named to the All-SIAC First Team  at oiutside hitter but she was also awarded the SIAC's Elite 16 Award, which recognizes the student-athlete who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the SIAC championship level in their sport while also achieving the highest academic standard among their peers. She is the first Miles volleyball player to earn the honor.