KAYLA ALLISON NAMED FIRST-TEAM ESPN THE MAGAZINE
ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT VI VOLLEYBALL SELECTION

         RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech’s Kayla Allison has been named an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI College Division Volleyball selection by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Allison, a senior setter from Tulsa, Okla., was named a First-Team selection this season after being a Second-Team honoree last season. She also was named a First-Team selection as a sophomore in 2006 and becomes the first Golden Sun Volleyball player to earn Academic All-District honors three times. Allison was one of six Gulf South Conference players named to one of the three All-District teams and one of two first-team honorees. Other GSC players named Academic All-District selections were Arkansas-Monticello senior MacKenzie Willis (first team), Southern Arkansas senior Sarah Bell (third team), Harding junior Manuela Nesheva (third team), Arkansas-Monticello sophomore Stephanie Hatten (third team) and Henderson State junior Bethany Wright (third team).

In order to be eligible for the Academic All-America honors, a student-athlete must have at least 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale), must be a starter or an important reserve and be in at least their second season of athletic and academic eligibility at their current school. In addition, all first-team All-District selections now advance on to the Academic All-American ballot.

Allison, who carries a 3.50 cumulative grade point average in nursing, has seen action in 30 of Tech’s 34 matches this season heading into Thursday’s regular season finale against Henderson State. On the season, Allison has recorded 966 assists (9.86 assists/set) and has also recorded 68 kills, 25 service aces, 201 digs (2.05 digs/set), 45 blocks and has had six double-doubles. In addition, Allison became the school’s career leader in assists earlier this season and currently has recorded 5,103 career assists, which is fourth-best on the GSC’s career chart and she also is third in Tech history in career digs with 1,119 and is fifth in school history in career aces with 152. Allison, who is a three-time All-GSC selection, is poised to become the first Golden Sun in the Division II era and second all-time to earn All-Conference honors four consecutive seasons.     

She has helped the Golden Suns post a 30-4 overall record and a 10-1 mark in the GSC and also helped Tech earn its first GSC West Division title since 2000.

          With her selection this season, Allison becomes Tech’s 12th all-time CoSIDA Academic All-District VI volleyball selection.

CoSIDA members in the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas were responsible for the voting.

         -- Tech Athletics --