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Virginia's Sarah Kirkwood Garners Academic Honor
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Nov. 10, 2005
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – University of Virginia second-year outside hitter Sarah Kirkwood (Tampa, Fla./Plant) has been named to the six-member ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III Volleyball First Team as announced Thursday (November 10). With her selection to the first team, Kirkwood is now eligible for national ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors.
Kirkwood has helped UVa to a 16-9 overall record and an 11-5 mark in the ACC in 2005. She leads the team with 427 kills (4.49 per game) and a .303 hitting percentage. Her 4.49 kills per game rank second among all ACC players and she leads the conference with 55 service aces (0.58 per game – 20th in the nation). The 2005 Preseason All-ACC pick has reached double figures in kills in 24 consecutive matches and has recorded eight double-doubles in kills and digs this season. She was selected as the ACC Volleyball Player of the Week on October 10 after averaging 5.64 kills per game (62 kills) while hitting .410 in three Cavalier victories.
Kirkwood, who registered a perfect 4.0 G.P.A. last year, is a 2004 second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection as well as the conference’s 2004 Freshman of the Year. She also received AVCA All-East Region honorable mention accolades last season.
To be nominated for ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) for his/her career. No athlete is eligible until he/she has reached sophomore athletic and academic standing in his/her career. District III consists of schools from the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Virginia returns to action on Friday (November 11) when it hosts Florida State at 7:00 p.m. at Memorial Gym. The Cavaliers wrap up the weekend by playing Miami at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday (November 12) at Mem Gym. Admission to home volleyball matches is free of charge.