Molli Abel Named Southland Conference Volleyball Student-Athlete Of The Year
FRISCO, Texas - Lamar University senior Molli Abel has been named the Capital One/Southland Conference Volleyball Student-Athlete of the Year as voted upon by the Awards Committee and released by the league office Friday. Abel is one of 18 student-athletes to be named to the 2007 All-SLC Academic Volleyball teams.
Starting all 34 matches in 2007 for the Lady Cardinals, Abel claimed Player of the Year honors after knocking down a league-best and school record .377 hitting percentage, sparking Lamar to its best record since 2002 (15-1,25-9) and claiming its first regular-season title since 2001.
A nursing major (3.63 GPA) from Friendswood, Texas, Abel’s performance off the court was equally as impressive. Picking up her second consecutive Academic All-SLC first team honor and third academic nomination of her career, the two-time Dean’s List recipient received her second CoSIDA Academic District VI second team nomination in successive seasons.
Abel is one of three student-athletes to receive CoSIDA District VI Academic honors (Emily Jones, TXST & Adrianne Meengs, LU) and is one of four student-athletes returning to the All-SLC Academic first team (Emily Nedderman, UTA; Lauren Railey, SFA; Traci Rohde, SFA).
UT Arlington landed the most academic selections with three first teamers and one second team selection. Stephen F. Austin’s three selections were all first team honorees, while Lamar and Texas State each claimed two academic members.
Among the 18 student-athletes selected for academic recognition, 13 sport a grade point average of 3.5 or higher with first team selection Adrianne Meengs of Lamar and second team honoree Dana Mecke of UTSA each landing a 4.0.
The student-athlete of the year is annually presented to the individual in each conference sport who achieves excellence in academics and athletics. Nominees shall have earned at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average to go along with superior athletics achievement.
The All-Academic teams are voted on by the head coaches, sports information directors and academic/compliance administrators from each SLC university. Student-athletes must possess a 3.00 cumulative grade point average, have completed one full academic year at the nominating institution and participated in at least 50 percent of the team's competition to qualify for the all-academic squad.
Ten Southland universities are represented on the all-academic team.
Included in Capital One’s support of the Southland Conference Academic Awards Program is the F.L. McDonald Postgraduate Scholarship presented by Capital One, and the Capital One Southland Conference All-Academic Teams, the Capital One Scholar-Athlete Award and the Capital One Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
(see attachment for full academic roster)