Four Receive Volleyball Academic All-District Honors

The Heidelberg College volleyball is in the midst of one of its most successful seasons in the history of the program, but that has not deterred the student-athletes from also performing in the classroom. Four student-athletes were recognized for their academic achievements with a spot on the ESPN the Magazine Academic College Division All-District IV Team. Heidelberg’s four representatives mark the most of any institution in the district IV’s college division.
 
Brittany Donelan (North Olmsted, Ohio / North Olmsted) and Morgan Magers (Green Springs, Ohio / Old Fort) were named to the first team, while Emily Hurlburt (St. Mary’s, Ohio / Memorial) and Kelsey Elliott (Ottawa, Ohio / Ottawa-Glandorf) were tabbed third team honorees.
 
Heidelberg is a member of District IV which consists of Division II, III and NAIA schools located in the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. To be nominated for the all-district team the student-athlete must have at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point and in at least their sophomore year at the institution and be a starter or key reserve. The all-district teams are voted on by sports information directors that are members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
 
Those selected to the first team of each district are then put on the national ballot for recognition as an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American.
 
Donelan, a sophomore libero, carries a perfect 4.00 grade point average as a business administration major. She leads the Heidelberg defense with 726 digs, which stands third in the single-season record book. In just two seasons, Donelan has already amassed over 1,000 digs and is just the 11th player to accomplish such a feat at the Berg. Donelan has also served up 30 aces on the year.
 
Magers is an education major and boasts a cumulative gpa of 3.95. The junior setter earned Academic All-OAC and All-OAC honors a season ago. She has tallied over 1,000 assists in each of her three years and holds the top-three spots in the single-season record book. In 2008 alone she has dished out 1,268 assists and moved atop the career record book with 4,106. Magers has also tallied 315 digs, 44 service aces and 93 kills.
 
A senior middle hitter, Hurlburt has a 3.71 gpa as an education major. Hurlburt had been named to numerous all-tournament teams over her four-year career, along with earning a spot on the Academic All-OAC and All-OAC teams a season ago. In 2008 she became just the fourth player to record 1,000 kills and currently has 1,133, which ranks third all-time. For the year Hurlburt leads the team in kills (411), attack percentage (.375) and blocks (103). Joining her kills career record is her total blocks which stands at 354, good enough four fourth in the record book. Her 411 kills stands sixth on the single-season list.
 
Elliott is studying public relations and carries a 3.78 grade point average. The senior outside hitter has accumulated 95 kills on the year and 20 blocks. She has focused on her all-around play in her final season, which has resulted in a career-best 199 digs and nine service aces.
 
Heidelberg, under the guidance of ninth-year head coach Jason Miller, are in the middle of the OAC Tournament and will take part in the semifinals for the second-straight season tomorrow, Nov. 7. The Berg will face Muskingum College at 5:00 p.m. at Ohio Northern University.
 
For the year, Heidelberg has a program record 29 wins to just six setbacks. The Berg has reached the 20-win plateau for three-consecutive seasons, and four out of the last five.