Volleyball | December 21, 2022
AIKEN, S.C. – University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball standout
Kari Mercer made program history Wednesday when it was announced by College Sports Communicators she had earned Academic All-America honors.
Mercer, a native of Hilliard, Ohio, becomes the program's first volleyball student-athlete to have earned Academic All-America and All-America honors in a career.
On Wednesday, Mercer picked up third-team Academic All-America accolades.
In 2021, Mercer picked up D2CCA Third-Team All-America honors. A two-time D2CCA first-team all-region selection, two-time PBC Libero of the Year and three-time all-league honoree, Mercer's hard work in the classroom earned her Academic All-America honors.
The junior has amassed 1,863 digs in her career. She is third in the school's history (overall and 25-point rally scoring era) for career digs and is fourth in the 25-point rally-scoring era for aces with 107.
Mercer was the lone representative of the PBC and Southeast Region on the team.
The 2022 Academic All-America Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes volleyball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at his/her current institution. The cumulative grade-point average may NOT be rounded up to 3.50.
FIRST TEAM Name School Yr. GPA Major
Rylee Hladky (1) Metropolitan State University of Denver Sr. 3.92 Mechanical Engineering
Hayley Kreiger Davenport University Gr. 3.89/4.00 Business
Kelli McKinnon Harding University Sr. 4.00 Exercise Science
Maureen Reilly Rockhurst University Jr. 4.00 Biochemistry
Charlotte Richards (5) University of Missouri-St. Louis Gr. 3.94/4.00 Supply Chain Mgmt. (UG) / Supply Chain Data Analytics (G)
Eve Stephens (3) University of Alaska Anchorage Sr. 3.91 Accounting
Sabrina VanDeList (3) Colorado Mesa University Jr. 4.00 Elementary Education
SECOND TEAM Name School Yr. GPA Major
Kennedy Brady Concordia-St. Paul Gr. 4.00 Education
Erika Bute Augustana University Sr. 4.00 Sports Administration & Leadership
Jess Molen Thomas Jefferson University Jr. 3.94 Biochemistry
Bella Ray Lewis University Jr. 3.99 Middle Level Education
Alyssa Rezac Northwest Missouri State University Sr. 3.88 Business Management
Teagan Starkey Concordia-St. Paul So. 4.00 Mathematics
Taylor Vaneekeren (2) University of West Florida Sr. 3.96 Sport Management
THIRD TEAM Name School Yr. GPA Major
Taya Beller Wayne State College So. 3.71 Business Management & Management
Emily Edwards Lynn University Sr. 4.00 Sports Management
Maddy Guetter Augustana University Sr. 3.91 Marketing
Kenzie Hines Rockhurst University Jr. 4.00 Business Administration & Accounting
Payton Kirchhoefer Northwest Missouri State University Jr. 3.93 Mathematics Education
Kari Mercer University of South Carolina Aiken Sr. 3.95 Business Administration
Rachel Walker Wayne State College Jr. 3.94 Elementary Education
