Francis Marion University Athletics

FMU: 3-year returning starter....All-Tournament Team at the 2021 NCAA II Southeast Regional....2021 Conference Carolinas Tournament Most Outstanding Player....Career totals entering 2021: 69 matches, 518 kills, .300 hitting percentage, 230 blocks....PBC All-Conference (second-team) 2020....Started 11 of 14 matches during covid-shortened 2020 season....Ranked 5th in the Peach Belt Conference in hitting percentage (.263)....Second on the team in blocks (26) and blocks per set (0.70)....Played in 30 matches with 25 starts as a sophomore....Led team in blocks (100) and hitting percentage (.291)....9 matches with double-figure kills....PBC rankings: 4th in hitting percentage and blocks per set (0.92), 5th in total blocks, 13th in points per set (2.85), 16th in kills (248) and kills per set (2.28), 17th in points (310.5)....Team season-best 13 blocks at USCA (11-1-19) - the most by a Patriot in 27 seasons....204 career blocks....Started 27 of 28 matches as a freshman and played in a team-high 103 (of 104) sets....Led Peach Belt Conference in attack percentage (.331) and led team in blocks (104)....PBC rankings: 1st in attack percentage; 4th in solo blocks (23), block assists (81), total blocks (104), and blocks per set (1.01); 19th in points per set (2.5); 20th in points (261.5); 21st in kills (198); and 23rd in kills per set (1.92)....6 matches with double-figure kills....9 matches with 5 or more total blocks....Signed during 2017 early signing period....Honored and thankful that Iyanla has chosen to be a part of the vision the FMU staff has for its program....Coming from the Midwest, has always played at both a high and competitive level in high school and club....Her height and her ability to play in the middle and at the opposite position will continue to add depth to the Patriot squad....Will make the plays that will be hard for Patriot fans to get anything but excited about.....Has a tremendous upside....Her best volleyball is yet to come.....FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll 2021 (fall), 2022 (spring).

PERSONAL: 

• Born Iyanla (E-yawn-lah) Monique Thigpen in Port Charlotte, FL
• A graduate of Victor J. Andrew High School, where she played for coach Emily Connolly.
• Three-time All-Conference selection.
• Helped the Thunderbolts reach the second round of the 2017 regionals.
• Played club ball with Ultimate Volleyball of Chicago.
• Nicknames are Yani, Yan, and Yancé

PERSONAL FAVORITES:

As a child what you wanted to be when you grew up:  A teacher or chemist 
Favorite Superhero: The one and only Patrushka Thigpen 
Favorite Athletes:  DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett
Favorite Sports Team:  Seattle Seahawks 
Favorite Movie or TV Shows:   One Tree Hill, Snowfall, Blacklist
Favorite Foods:  Haitian food, Jamaican food, seafood, pasta  
Favorite Vacation Spot:  New Orleans 
Twitter Handle: yaniii132
Instagram Account: yani1i
Favorite Musical Artists: J Cole and Rihanna 
Favorite Thing About FMU:  The food 
Favorite Off-Field/court Activity:  Online shopping 
Goals for Upcoming Season:  Earning All-Conference honors and being conference champs 
Why you first chose your sport: It’s a team sport 
Biggest mental challenge in your sport: Coming up on top when your back is against the wall (gots to see it through my boy)
Interesting Notes:  All-Cconference
Brush With Greatness: I'm an international super spy…SUPER SPYYY!