SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced today that 609 volleyball student-athletes, including Bellevue University's Jacki Apel, Sierra Athen, Haley Fleischman, Eve Fountain, Brooklyn Hundt, Taylan Keefer, Nicole Meyer, and Sidney Sledge have been named 2022 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
In order to be nominated by an institution's head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, must appear on the eligibility certificate for their sport, and have attended one full year at said institution.
Graceland (Iowa) led the way with 19 honorees. Concordia (Neb.) finished a close second with 18.
Ranked No. 14 nationally, Bellevue (27-7) will begin pool play at the NAIA National Championship Final Site with a 1:00 p.m. match on Dec. 1 against No. 25-ranked Westmont (23-6). The Bruins will take on No. 3 Midland (26-4) at 1:00 p.m. on Dec. 2. All matches are being played at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
