Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2017-18 | Hawk Talk Monthly — November
IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa volleyball senior Annika Olsen was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District first team, the association announced Thursday.
To be eligible for CoSIDA Academic All-American, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at her current institution. Olsen, a Johns Creek, Ga., native, is a finance major with a 4.06 GPA.
“Annika continues to be a captain, a leader, a motivator, a sweat-equity stalwart for us in the back row, and she’s just a fantastic student-athlete,” said UI head coach Bond Shymansky. “Her academic contribution to the program has really changed the cultural viewpoint inside the team about what it means to work hard to earn good grades. We are certainly going to miss that influence. We are mindful with our players that everybody is leading at something. It doesn’t matter what your title is, everybody is leading at something, and Annika does a really great job of leading at being exceptional academically.”
Olsen has played libero in every set for Iowa during her three years with the program. This season, she leads the Big Ten with 499 digs and 4.89 digs per set. Olsen has reached double digits in digs in 26 matches, including a career-high 29 digs twice, both at Indiana on Oct. 11 and against Illinois on Oct. 20. Olsen ranks No. 6 in program history with 1,500 career digs.
The 2017 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Volleyball Team recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom.
First team Academic All-District honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team ballot, with first, second, and third team Academic All-America honorees announced in December.
