AUGUSTA, Ga. – Three University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball student-athletes have been tabbed to the 2012 Peach Belt Conference Volleyball All-Academic Team.
The league office unveiled the team on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012.
Ashley Farwell and Samantha Lukralle are now three-time Peach Belt Conference All-Academic selections, while Hannah Tierney claims the honor for the first time in her Pacer career.
In total, six Pacers were noted for their achievements in the classroom and on the court with Shannon Byers, Endea Ellison and Claire Patten all garnering Honorable Mention All-Academic accolades.
Farwell concluded her time in a Pacer uniform with 1,374 assists in her career. A setter, Farwell was second among all Pacers in 2012 with 280 assists. She averaged 4.91 assists per set.
Farwell (Wake Forest, N.C./Wake Forest-Rolesville HS) currently owns a 3.742 grade point average as a Business Administration major.
Farwell was chosen to the Capital One Academic NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball District Three First-Team in early November of 2012.
Lukralle boasts a 3.967 grade point average as a Nursing major. She is the 2012 recipient of the Peach Belt Conference Volleyball Elite 15 award, which is modeled on the NCAA's Elite 89 award and honors the student-athletes competing in Peach Belt Conference championship events with the highest cumulative GPA.
Lukralle (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst HS) closed out her Pacer career with 2,160 career digs. The 2,160 digs is the most all-time in Pacer volleyball history. The dig total is good for fourth all-time in Peach Belt Conference history.
Lukralle ended her senior season in 2012 with 517 digs. The Pacer libero averaged a Peach Belt Conference second-best 5.68 digs per set. The Peach Belt Conference Specialist of the Week on Oct. 15, Lukralle claimed 20 or more digs in 14 matches this past season.
She was chosen the Peach Belt Conference Libero of the Year in 2010. A member of the 2010 Peach Belt Conference All-Tournament Team, Lukralle was also named All-Region in 2010.
Lukralle was selected to the Capital One Academic NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball District Three First-Team in 2011 and 2012.
Tierney finished her sophomore season in 2012 for USC Aiken with a team-best 77 blocks to go along with 191 kills.
Tierney (Winchester, Va./James Wood HS) led the Pacers in solo blocks (14) and block assists (63). She averaged 0.72 blocks per set.
In the classroom, Tierney presently owns a 3.726 grade point average as an Exercise and Sports Science major.
Byers (Morristown, Minn./Faribault HS) finished her Pacer career as a four-time All-Peach Belt Conference selection. She currently owns a 3.309 grade point average as a Biology major.
Ellison (Orange Park, Fla./Episcopal HS) finished USC Aiken's 2012 season with 64 kills and 18 blocks. A junior Nursing major, Ellison currently owns a 3.449 grade point average.
Patten (Boulder, Colo./Mercer) finished her Pacer career in 2012 by finishing fourth on the team with 278 digs. The Exercise and Sports Science major currently owns a 3.580 grade point average as an Exercise and Sports Science major.
The Peach Belt Conference Volleyball All-Academic Team is part of a season-long program recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of PBC student-athletes in the classroom as well as on the field. To be eligible for the All-Academic team, a student-athlete must 1) participate in at least half of his/her team's events and be either a starter or significant contributor; 2) achieved a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and 3) completed at least one full academic year at his or her current institution. The Peach Belt Conference Sports Information Directors oversee and select the teams.
Founded in 1991, the Peach Belt Conference is home to 32 NCAA Division II National Championships. 14 member institutions in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama compete in 15 championship sports. 2012-13 members are Augusta State University, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Clayton State University, Columbus State University, Flagler College, Francis Marion University, Georgia College & State University, Georgia Southwestern State University, Lander University, University of Montevallo, North Georgia College & State University, University of North Carolina at Pembroke. the University of South Carolina Aiken and Young Harris College.
2012 PBC Volleyball All-Academic Team - Click Link to Access
