Junior Cecilia Agraz was named a 2011 Capital One second-team Academic All-American - the first honor for a Fresno State volleyball student-athlete in school history.
Dec. 15, 2011
FRESNO, Calif. -
Junior Cecilia Agraz made program history once again as the first Bulldog volleyball student-athlete to receive Capital One Academic All-America honors, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Agraz, a junior outside hitter/defensive specialist from Hanford, Calif., received the second-team distinction for a combination of her play on the court and performance in the classroom.
"When it comes to academic athletic work ethic, very few out-do Cecilia," head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell said. "She's 100 percent dependable in the classroom and helped strengthen our defense for a strong finish in the WAC this year. I'm proud to have her on our team."
She was the only player from the Western Athletic Conference to earn Academic All-America honors following the Bulldogs' final year in the league, which featured an exciting five-set tournament semifinal between Fresno State and then-No. 3 Hawai'i. The Rainbow Wahine later advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament.
Agraz joined Stephanie Browne from Stanford as the only two honored from institutions in the state of California and joined 12 volleyball student-athletes in the nation to be named to either the first or second team.
In 2011, Agraz appeared in all 29 matches with 21 starts and recorded 120 kills (1.1 kps), 194 digs (1.9 dps) and 33 aces (0.3 aps). She also posted three double-digit kill efforts and three double-digit dig marks.
Agraz is a member of the Smittcamp Family Honors College and held a perfect 4.0 grade point average while double-majoring in communication and political science entering the fall semester. Additionally, she has been on the university's President List four times and twice received Academic All-WAC accolades.
Previously, Agraz earned the program's first CoSIDA Academic All-District honor as a sophomore.
Under head coach
Lauren Netherby-Sewell, the Bulldogs have been recognized for the past two seasons with the American Volleyball Coaches Association team academic award for maintaining a combined grade point average of 3.3 or higher.
Fresno State is one of only three NCAA Division I schools in the state of California to be tabbed with 2010-11 distinction, along with Stanford and California, and one of 92 in the nation honored this year.
The 'Dogs were also the only California State University school to receive the honor last year and the only WAC school to earn the award in each of the past two years.
FIRST TEAM
Name School Yr. Hometown GPA Major
Suzy Boulavsky, Oklahoma, Sr., Houston, Texas, 3.97, Public Relations
Stephanie Browne, Stanford, Gr., Danville, Cal., 3.95, Sociology
Katherine Fischer, Oregon, Jr. Los Altos, Cal., 4.02, Accounting
Kristin Hoffman, Northern Illinois, Sr., Batavia, Ill., 3.97, History
Kristy Jaeckel, Florida, Gr., Littleton, Col., 4.00, Sport Management
Kelly Williamson, New Mexico, Sr., Buenos Aires, Argentina, 4.00, Conservation Biology
SECOND TEAM
Name, School, Yr., Hometown, GPA, Major
Cecilia Agraz, Fresno State, Jr., Hanford, Calif., 4.00, Communication & Political Science
Stephanie Figueroa, Texas El Paso, Sr., Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico, 4.00, Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies
Jenna Miller, Tennessee-Martin, Sr., Highland Village, Texas, 4.00, Political Science
Jenilee Rathje, Michigan State, Gr., Mount Pleasant, Mich., 3.84, Kinesiology
Lauren Sears, Southern Mississippi, Sr., Ashburn, Va., 4.00, Mathematics
Ariel Turner, Purdue, Jr., Highlands Ranch, Col., 3.62, Mechanical Engineering
THIRD TEAM
Name, School, Yr., Hometown, GPA, Major
Lauren Campbell, Northern Arizona, Jr., Covington, Wash. 4.00, Mechanical Engineering
Paige Dossey, Southeast Missouri State, Sr., Avon, Ind., 4.00, Exceptional Child Education
Kelsey Jewasko, Texas-San Antonio, Sr., San Antonio, Texas, 3.93, Interdisciplinary Studies
Emma Keough, Morehead State, Gr., Batavia, Ohio, 4.00, Education
Allison McGlaughlin, Northern Illinois, Sr., Morton, Ill., 3.96, Elementary Education
Vineece Verdun, Georgia State, Sr., Bloomfield Hills, Mich., 3.98, Public Policy
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