A pair of Nebraska Wesleyan University volleyball players have been honored as CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VII selections. Senior libero Erika Goldsmith was named a First-Team Academic All-District winner, while Laura Brammeier earned Second-Team Academic All-District honors.
With her selection to the Academic All-District first team, Goldsmith advances to the national ballot for ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America recognition. The Academic All-America volleyball team will be announced on Nov. 22.
Goldsmith was one of only six players that were named First-Team Academic All-District VII in the college division. Just 21 total players were on the three All-District teams as it is a very distinct honor. NWU joins Nebraska-Kearney as the only team to have two players earn the honor.
A native of Omaha, Neb., Goldsmith carries a 3.91 cumulative grade-point average in health & fitness studies. The four-year libero is now second all-time at Nebraska Wesleyan with 2,022 career digs. She leads the team averaging 5.36 digs per set this season to rank third in the GPAC.
A Lincoln, Neb., native Brammeier has a 3.72 GPA in psychology. Brammeier leads the team and ranks second in the conference averaging 3.58 kills per set. She is third on the team in digs with 305. For her career, the All-American now has 1,223 career kills which is tied for fifth all-time with current NWU volleyball coach Gina Chambers.
Student-athletes must meet four criteria to earn ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District honors: 1) must have a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or better, 2) must have at least two terms of attendance at the institution, 3) must be at least a sophomore in athletic eligibility, 4) must be a starter or key reserve in their respective sport.
The All-District selection is determined by voting of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). District VII is comprised of NCAA Division II and Division III and NAIA institutions from the states of Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
