Volleyball quartet selected as academic all-district

INDIANOLA, Iowa – The Simpson College volleyball team placed Ellie Gray, Rachel Hardwick, Jessica Jacobs and Marissa Salber on the 2022 Academic All-District Volleyball Team, as selected by the College Sports Communicators.

They are the first Storm volleyball players to land on the team since Kim Rogers in 2013.

Gray is double majoring in psychology and human services at Simpson. A defensive specialist from Nevada, Iowa, Gray played in 16 matches and 44 sets as a sophomore. She tallied 75 digs, seven assists and five aces.

Hardwick is another defensive specialist for the Storm who recorded 162 digs in 21 matches and 79 sets. A management information systems major, Hardwick also recorded eight assists and ranked third on the team with 28 aces.

Jacobs is majoring in elementary education and liberal arts with endorsements in mathematics and social studies. On her way to a second straight first team all-conference honor, Jacobs knocked down 381 kills. She added 120 digs, a team-high 42 aces, 25 total blocks and 10 assists.

A business management major, Salber earned first team all-conference accolades after amassing 778 assists as the Storm's primary setter. She also had 213 digs, 57 kills, 38 aces and 18 blocks while playing in all 25 matches and 94 sets.

The College Sports Communicators, formerly known as College of Sports Information Directors of American (CoSIDA), recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. To qualify, all nominees must be a sophomore in academic standing, a starter or key reserve, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher. The full team can be viewed by clicking here.

All four honorees will be placed on the Academic All-America ballot with first-, second- and third-team honorees slated to be announced in December.