LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- Two Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference volleyball student-athletes were named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team.
Jessie Koster of the University of Dallas and Southwestern University's Nikki Welch were each recognized by the organization.
Koster, a senior libero for the Crusaders, earned the first award of its kind for UD Volleyball, and is just the fourth UD athlete to earn this honor. The Sherwood, Oregon native currently holds a 3.82 GPA as a biology (pre-dental) major.
On the court, Koster has been impressive all season, and was recognized as the conference's Back Row Player of the Year. She is currently averaging 7.46 digs per set, and she now boasts 2,832 digs in her career, a Dallas record.
Welch, a senior setter for the Pirates, was recognized after posting a 3.60 GPA as a psychology major. In addition to her work in the classroom, Welch is currently the nation's leader in total assists and she helped lead the fifth-ranked Southwestern Pirates to a second place finish in the SCAC's regular season standings.
Both players will compete with their teams at the SCAC Volleyball Championship, held November 4-5 in Shreveport, Lousiana.