Dec. 19, 2013
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Senior Ariel Scott has been selected as the recipient of the women's volleyball Senior CLASS Award, as announced by the organization this morning. She is the first Nittany Lion in women's volleyball program history to earn the prestigious honor, which is presented annually to the top women's volleyball student-athlete who exemplifies excellence on and off the court.
A three-time AVCA All-American and the 2012 Big Ten Player of the Year, Scott recently garnered her third consecutive All-Big Ten honor, picking up a unanimous selection to the 14-person team, as well as a spot on the AVCA All-Northeast Region team. Throughout her career in the blue and white, Scott has established herself as one of the top offensive attackers in the Nittany Lion lineup.
"I'm honored to have earned the Senior CLASS Award, and I'm so thankful for my teammates and coaches who have helped me perform my best on the court and in the classroom," Scott said.
Scott's leading the team with 3.26 kills per frame, while also averaging 0.85 blocks per set. She's led the team in kills in 15 matches this year, posting double-digit kills in 18 different contests. Scott highlighted the season with a 25-kill performance in a 3-2 win against Minnesota, before posting a 22-kill performance in a 3-2 win against Stanford for a bid to the NCAA national semifinals.
"We are so proud to see Ariel earn this award that speaks to the way she has approached her time at Penn State," said head coach Russ Rose. "Not only is she a leader on the court, but she's a standout student-athlete in the classroom who is also actively involved in the community. The way she carries herself is representative of everything that embodies this award," head coach Russ Rose said.
Off the court, she is a member of the Penn State chapter of the Public Relations Students Society of America and has earned both Academic All-Big Ten honors and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honors. Since her freshman year, Scott has volunteered regularly with the Special Olympics, working to teach participants basic volleyball skills. She also volunteers with the Special Olympians through the Penn State women's volleyball program.
The original 10 finalists were selected by a media committee from a list of 30 candidates announced in August. Media votes, head coach votes and the totals from a nationwide fan vote all factored in to the final decision.
"We have many outstanding candidates for the Senior CLASS Award. It's truly incredible how well rounded volleyball players across the nation are so it takes a special student-athlete to stand out among that group," said Erik Miner, executive director for the Senior CLASS Award. "Ariel has had a fantastic career on and off the court. She is a very deserving winner of this award."
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School ®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - community, classroom, character, and competition. More information on the award is listed on the Senior CLASS Award website. b