Dec. 8, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - For the second straight season, junior middle blocker Haleigh Washington has garnered College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America honors, as the organization announced on Thursday morning. After earning second team honors in 2015, Washington earned her second career Academic All-America honors this season, being named to the third team.
Washington continues to be one of the most consistent hitters in the college game, leading Penn State and the Big Ten while ranking second in the nation in hitting percentage with a startling .435 clip. The percentage is also the best among all players from Power Five institutions. Washington has led the team in blocks, posting 133 total while adding 281 total kills, good for second on the team. The Colorado Springs, Colorado native added 71 digs on the season and 24 service aces, good for second best on the team.
In the classroom, Washington boasts a 3.83 GPA while double majoring in philosophy and psychology.
Washington is Penn State's second CoSIDA Academic All-American this year, joining football's Tyler Yazujian. Overall, Penn State has had 195 Academic All-Americans all-time, which ranks fifth among all NCAA institutions and fourth among Division I schools.
Washington is joined on the third team by Wyoming's Laura Beach, Kent State's Kelsey Bittinger, Wisconsin's Lauren Carlini, Temple's Kyra Coundourides and Hofstra's Hannah Clem. Washington is one of nine players on the three All-America teams to repeat as a selection on the 2016 squad.
For the full release, click here.
The 16-seed Penn State women's volleyball team (24-9) advanced to the Regional semifinal following victories over LIU Brooklyn, 3-0 (25-8, 25-16, 25-6) and Pitt, 3-1 (20-25, 25-16, 25-13, 25-18), in the opening weekend of the NCAA tournament. The Nittany Lions are now slated to face the top-seeded Nebraska Cornhuskers (29-2) in Lincoln, Nebraska on Friday, Dec. 9 at 12 p.m. ET. The match is set for broadcast on ESPNU, with Paul Sunderland and Karch Kirlay on the call.