4 from volleyball named GNAC all-academic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu November 19, 2015 Volleyball has 4 named to GNAC all-academic team MSUB Volleyball on Facebook MSUB Volleyball Stack on ISSUU Yellowjacket Award Winners GNAC Release

Junior Kimmy Kirk (and in the background sophomore Mataia Roderick) were both named the GNAC all-academic team.

Four members of the MSUB volleyball team earn GNAC all-academic honors for the 2015 season.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Four members of the MSU Billings volleyball squad earned Great Northwest Athletic Conference allacademic honors announced by the conference office Thursday.

Seniors Kyndal Williams and Audri Marrs along with junior Kimmy Kirk and sophomore Mataia Roderick were recognized by the conference office for their achievements on the court and in the classroom.

“I am very proud of our four athletes that were selected to the GNAC All-Academic team,” MSUB head coach Lisa Axel said. “They have done a great job in the classroom and have been able to balance the demands of what it takes to be a

student-athlete. All four of these individuals are very deserving of this award and should be proud of such a high accomplishment.�

Williams was one of nine student-athletes to be awarded the honor for the third time in their respective careers. The native of Helena, Mont., has been a four-year starter at the setter position for MSUB and carries a 3.56 cumulative GPA in psychiatric rehabilitation.

Marrs picks up her first career GNAC all-academic team award this season. The middle blocker was a transfer student-athlete from Metro State University where she earned her undergraduate degree in human development. At MSUB, Marrs is enrolled as a graduate student with a cumulative GPA of 3.20 in psychology.

Junior Kimmy Kirk picked up her second GNAC all-academic award this season. She holds a 3.36 in health and human performance and is one of 14 member of the all-conference team earning a second selection.

Sophomore Mataia Roderick earned her first honor this season with a 3.45 cumulative GPA in health and human performance.

Senior Kyndal Williams earned GNAC all-academic honors for the

third time in her career.

To be eligible for the GNAC all-academic team, studentathletes must be a projected letter winner, have a minimum grade point average of 3.20, and unless a transfer in a graduate program, be in at least their second year of competition at their university.

Forty-seven volleyball student-athletes from the GNAC were named to the all-academic team. At least one player represents all 11 GNAC member institutions on the team. Concordia, in their first year as a GNAC program, leads the list with eight all-academic selections. Central Washington landed seven players on the list while Seattle Pacific landed six.

While Christine Howlett was Simon Fraser’s one selection, she leads the squad with a 4.00 cumulative grade point average as a business major in the Canadian system that awards a 4.33 GPA for an A-plus.

MSU Billings plays a conference match Thursday, Nov. 19, against Northwest Nazarene. The Yellowjackets and Crusaders will square off at 7 p.m. Fans can follow the action live on the MSUB Stretch Internet Portal here. msubsports.com | #JacketNation--