AUSTIN, Texas – Anderson University senior setter Emily Conlin headlines the Academic All-America® Division II volleyball team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Conlin is the recipient of the Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year for NCAA Division II volleyball. A three-time Academic All-America® First-Team choice, the Glendale, Arizona, native is one of seven student-athletes to land on this year's first team.
A two-time honorable mention All-American on the court, Conlin has a perfect 4.00 GPA with her business and computer information systems double major. Statistically, she posted 20 double-doubles (assists, digs) and distributed double-figure assists in every match this season. Conlin reached 40+ assists on 15 occasions with a season-high 54 (twice).
Earlier this year, she became Anderson's all-time leader in assists and finished her stellar career with 5,019 assists, which stands second all-time in the South Atlantic Conference record books. Her 1,537 career digs place her ninth all-time in AU's record books and she wrapped up her career in third place with 189 career service aces.
Conlin is the only student-athlete in the South Atlantic Conference with more than 1,100 assists and 300 digs. The 2019 SAC Player of the Year leads the league in assists (1162) and assists per set (10.56). Conlin is a First-Team All-Southeast Region selection from both the AVCA and the D2CCA. She is a three-time All-Southeast Region performer and a four-year member of the All-SAC team.
Twelve of the 22 members of the Academic All-America® Division II volleyball team have a perfect 4.00 GPA, including five of the seven on the first team. The aggregate GPA for the 22 Academic All-America® team members is 3.93. Nine of the 22 Academic All-America® selections played in this year's NCAA Division II Tournament, including Conlin and three other first team members.
Conlin's selection as Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year for NCAA Division II volleyball gives the SAC the last three honorees. Lincoln Memorial University defensive specialist Erica Whiteaker won the same award in 2018 and 2017. Conlin is one of four Academic All-America® repeat selections this year; she is the only three-time AAA honoree on the 2019 list.
Both The College of Saint Rose senior libero Tina Ceriello and Notre Dame (Ohio) College senior libero Alexandra Kaeberlein earn spots on the CoSIDA Academic All-America® first team after gaining second team status last year. Chico State senior outside Bekah Boyle is a third team Academic All-America® choice this year. Boyle joined Ceriello and Kaeberlein on the second team in 2018.
The Division II Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division II national governance structure to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2019-20 Division II Academic All-America® teams program.
Click HERE to see Conlin's video interview with Don Vieth
For more information on the Academic All-America® program, go to https://academicallamerica.com/
FIRST TEAM
Name School Yr. GPA Major
Tina Ceriello (2) The College of Saint Rose Sr. 4.00 Communication Sciences & Disorders
Emily Conlin (1, #) Anderson University (SC) Sr. 4.00 Business / Computer Information Systems
Meghan Delaney Union University Jr. 4.00 Nursing
Alexandra Kaeberlein (2) Notre Dame College Sr. 4.00 Accounting
Karli Reichert Rockhurst University Sr. 3.98 Communication Sciences & Disorders
Faith Rottinghaus Washburn University Jr. 4.00 Kinesiology
Ashley Rozell Northern State University Sr. 3.94 Business Management & Marketing
SECOND TEAM
Name School Yr. GPA Major
Emily Balts University of Minnesota Duluth Sr. 3.92 Chemical Engineering
Libby Bochniak Georgia College Jr. 4.00 Biology
Allyson Cappel Ferris State University Sr. 3.61 Elementary Education
Alexis Cardoza Cal State San Bernardino Jr. 3.69 Psychology
Jenna Huffman Tiffin University Sr. 3.88 Management
Kelsey Matusic University of Charleston Sr. 4.00 Biology
Courtney Niesen Urbana University Jr. 4.00 Exercise Science
Sommer Rhea Auburn University at Montgomery Sr. 4.00 Biology
THIRD TEAM
Name School Yr. GPA Major
Bekah Boyle (2) Chico State Sr. 3.98 Biochemistry
Payton Gidney Spring Hill College Sr. 4.00 Psychology
Kasie Gilfert Colorado Mesa University Sr. 3.79 Liberal Arts
Ashton Lee Minnesota State University, Mankato Sr. 4.00 Communication Disorders
Rachael Martin Florida Southern College Jr. 4.00 Nursing
Mary Kate McHugh Notre Dame College Sr. 3.97 Psychology
Alyssa Spears University of Indianapolis Sr. 3.91 Social Work
CoSIDA Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year: Emily Conlin, Anderson (S.C.) University
(1) – CoSIDA Academic All-America® first team selection in 2018
(2) – CoSIDA Academic All-America® second team selection in 2018
(#) – CoSIDA Academic All-America® first team selection in 2017
