Iowa State University Athletics
Four Cyclones Named Academic All-Big 12 First Team
11.14.2017 | Volleyball, Academic Services
AMES, Iowa – Four members of the Iowa State volleyball team were named to the 2017 Academic All-Big 12 Volleyball Team, the conference office announced Tuesday. All four were named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team with the honorees being Alexis Conaway, Hali Hillegas, Jess Schaben and Samara West.
Conaway, an Orange City, Iowa native and kinesiology major, was named Academic All-Big 12 First Team for the third-straight year, continuing to maintain a cumulative 4.0 GPA. She was one of four Big 12 student-athletes to be named Academic All-Big 12 with a 4.0 GPA. Conaway has averaged 2.37 kills per set, 1.66 digs per set and 1.07 blocks per set this season.
West also made her third Academic All-Big 12 Team, with this season marking her second time earning First Team honors. The redshirt senior from Omaha and Child, Adult and Family Services major is averaging 2.98 kills per set at a team-best .301 hitting percentage and 0.85 blocks per set.
Hillegas and Schaben each are making their second-straight appearances on the Academic All-Big 12 First Team. Both are also Elementary Education major. Hillegas leads the Big 12 and ranks 13th in the NCAA with her 5.69 digs per set. Schaben leads Iowa State with her 3.18 kills per set and is also averaging 2.94 digs per frame.
To qualify for Academic All-Big 12, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of their team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.
First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA while the second team selections hold a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.
Iowa State returns to the court on Wednesday when the Cyclones travel to Norman to take on Oklahoma. First serve between ISU and OU will be at 7 p.m.
