Women's Volleyball | 12/17/2024 4:30:00 PM
(Greenwood, Ind. - Dec. 17, 2024) - Four Trailblazer volleyball student-athletes earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors, the organization announced on Tuesday.
The Academic All-District teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom.
In order to qualify for the award, student-athletes must have at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA while competing in at least 90 percent of sets or start at least 66 percent of matches.
Junior outside hitter
Kennedi Knudsen, junior middle blocker
Casidy Fried, sophomore setter
Marley Roe and sophomore libero
Mya Laufiso each earned this honor for their performance on and off the court this season.
Starting all 27 matches and playing in all 99 sets, Knudsen ranked fifth in the WAC in kills per set (3.99) and sixth in kills (395) this season.
Leading the Trailblazers in kills in 24 matches, Knudsen earned First Team All-WAC honors and set the single-match program record with 34 kills in a five-set win over Utah Valley on Nov. 2. Knudsen holds a 3.87 GPA as a Graphic Design major.
A newcomer to the Trailblazers in 2024, Fried had an immediate impact starting all 27 matches and ranked second in the WAC in blocks per set (1.45).
Leading or tied for the team lead in blocks in 16 matches, Fried finished the season fourth in program history in a single season in solo blocks (20) and ranked second in block assists (122) & total blocks (142). Fried holds a 3.53 GPA as a Marketing major.
Making 18 starts and playing in all 99 sets, Roe led the Trailblazers with 546 assists and 5.52 assists per set.
The Honolulu, Hawai'i native added 205 digs and 29 kills. Roe holds a 3.71 GPA as a Hotel and Resort Management major.
Finally, Laufiso led the team with 365 digs, sixth in the WAC, and started all 27 matches for the Trailblazers. Laufiso holds a 3.51 GPA as a Graphic Educational major.
The 2024 Academic All-District® Volleyball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom.
The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes volleyball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Knudsen, who was tabbed an Academic All-District® honoree, moves on to be considered for the CSC Academic All-America® ballot and advances to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members.
First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced Jan. 14, 2025.
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2022-23 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA governance structure.
For more information about CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.
