CHARLESTON, S.C. - Puerto Rican native Sharlissa De Jesus led the Bulldogs in their most successful season since the program began in 1998.

The team finished with a final overall record of 12-19 after defeating five conference opponents for the first time in program history. The team also posted their first post-season conference victory with a win against Western Carolina.

Q: Going into the year with a new coaching staff, what was the team mindset?
A: It's always stressful as a player to find out you are getting new coaches but knowing that Coach Zelenock and Cole both were experienced as coaches and players, it allowed us to go into the season more confident and trusting. The chemistry on the team this year was really good, we were happy to be playing beside one another and doing all we could as a team to win. I think if you were able to watch any of our matches, it was evident that we were out there having fun as a group.

Q: You were the first player to be named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team last year and this year you received Second Team All-Conference. What was your mentality heading into each match?
A: Every single game I stepped on the court I decided to just go for it and not think too much. Last year as a freshman, I think I had more pregame jitters but this year I knew I just had to play my game and do everything I could to make my team better.

Q: You have support systems worldwide, what does that mean for you and your motivation?
A: My family and friends have been with me every step of the way and it always drives me to play better and harder knowing that they are still behind me.

Q: Megan Fuhr totaled 950 assists on the season, what does her success mean to you?
A: Seeing Megan work as hard as she does every single day motivates me to be a better hitter. Being our only setter puts a lot of pressure on her to be healthy and always give 100% so I feel like if I can mimic her work ethic that I will succeed. The stat sheet will never do justice for what she does for our team and me as a hitter.

Q: What are your goals for next year, both individually and as a team?
A: I really think we have what it takes to finish in the top five next year. We see other teams and they are losing a lot of players whereas we are very young. We have already made tremendous improvements as a program and it can only continue to go up. I think individually, getting Second Team All-Conference will be something that motivates me over.

History in the Record Books
De Jesus has etched her name even further up in the record books than she did as a freshman. She currently sits third for total kills in a single season with 406 and took first place in kills per set, averaging 3.90. She also moved into 13th for career kills with 735.De Jesus finished the 2018 campaign with 12 double-doubles bringing her career total to 26 in two years. She finished the year second in the Southern Conference in kills, averaging 3.90 per set and took third in service aces on the year with 42.

Coaching Views on De Jesus
"Sharlissa is a very fun player to not only coach but be around. She has already achieved so much and it is scary to think about how much more potential she has to grow over the next two years. She leads the team not vocally but by her play, the team always knows that anything is possible if she is on the court."