SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Four members of the Shepherd University volleyball team have been named to the 2022 Academic All‐District® Women's Volleyball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators. The teams recognize the nation's top student‐athletes for their combined performances on the court 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. 

Senior outside hitter Mikaylah Hoy (Sharpsburg, Md./Heritage Academy), junior setter Victoria Nicholes (North Huntington, Pa./Norwin), redshirt-sophomore libero Claire Ellis (Louisa, Va./Saint Catherine's School), and sophomore middle hitter Renee Killough (Bloomery, W.Va./Hampshire) have garnered CSC Academic All-District honors. 

Hoy boasts a 3.68 grade point average as a nursing major. The 2022 PSAC East Athlete of the Year, a repeat first team All-Conference choice, led the Rams in kills (302), kills per set (3.32), and ranks second in digs (239). She is fourth on the team in assists (21) and aces (21).  

Nicholes carries a 3.93 grade point average as an environmental studies major. She leads the team in assists (630), is second in service aces (36), and is third in digs (205). Her 47 blocks rank her fifth on the team. 

Ellis boasts a 3.58 grade point average as a psychology/ criminology major. Ellis, the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year, led the Rams in digs (380) and digs per game (4.04). The first team All-Conference choice added a team-best 54 service aces, 87 assists, and three kills. Her 0.57 service ace average is second in the PSAC. 

Killough carries a 3.88 grade point average as a biology major. Killough, a second team All-PSAC selection,  topped the team in blocks (112), block solos (16), and block assists (96).  She added 129 kills, 44 digs, 21 aces, and 10 assists. Killough, who ranks third nationally in blocks per set (1.32), helps Shepherd lead NCAA II in blocks per set with a 2.67 average.  

Academic All‐District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All‐America® ballot. First‐, second, and third‐team Academic All‐ America® honorees will be announced in late December.    

The Division II and III CSC Academic All‐America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2022‐23 Divisions II and III Academic All‐ America® programs. The NAIA CSC Academic All‐America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA national office.