University of Tennessee Athletics
Ava Bell and Natalie Hayward Earn CoSIDA Academic All-District Team Recognition
November 18, 2021 | Volleyball, Tennessee Tailored
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – As announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Thursday, seniors Ava Bell and Natalie Hayward have garnered CoSIDA Academic All-District 3 Women's Volleyball First Team honors.
It is the second consecutive all-region honor for Bell and the first for Hayward.
Tennessee volleyball leads the SEC with its two honorees.
The 2021 Academic All-District Women's Volleyball team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom.
Currently, Bell leads the Lady Vols in hitting percentage and ranks third in the Southeastern Conference with an average of .425. She also averages 1.10 blocks per set and has helped UT to become one of the nation's top blocking teams.
UT is first in the SEC and fifth in the country in blocks per set at 2.87.
Twice this season Bell has earned SEC weekly awards, being named SEC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 4 and Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 18. Along with her 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-District award, the Austin, Texas, native is a two-time Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll member.
Bell is on track to graduate in December with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Sociology.
Hayward has racked up the awards this season as she has been named SEC Setter of the Week on three occasions and has won SEC Player of the Week once. The Bothell, Washington, native has three matches this campaign with 50-plus assists, including a career-high 57 in a win over No. 9 Baylor.
As Tennessee's primary setter, Hayward averages 10.73 assists per set. That mark ranks fourth in the SEC and 26th nationally. Hayward also leads UT with 19 service aces.
On Sept. 17 against Purdue Fort Wayne, Hayward eclipsed the 1,000 assist mark as a Lady Vol. She currently ranks sixth all-time in Tennessee history during the rally-scoring era with 1,681 assists.
Hayward is on track to graduate later this summer with a degree in Child and Family Studies.
As first team members, Bell and Hayward will appear on the Academic All-America ballot, which will be released later this month.
It is the second consecutive all-region honor for Bell and the first for Hayward.
Tennessee volleyball leads the SEC with its two honorees.
The 2021 Academic All-District Women's Volleyball team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom.
Currently, Bell leads the Lady Vols in hitting percentage and ranks third in the Southeastern Conference with an average of .425. She also averages 1.10 blocks per set and has helped UT to become one of the nation's top blocking teams.
UT is first in the SEC and fifth in the country in blocks per set at 2.87.
Twice this season Bell has earned SEC weekly awards, being named SEC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 4 and Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 18. Along with her 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-District award, the Austin, Texas, native is a two-time Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll member.
Bell is on track to graduate in December with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Sociology.
Hayward has racked up the awards this season as she has been named SEC Setter of the Week on three occasions and has won SEC Player of the Week once. The Bothell, Washington, native has three matches this campaign with 50-plus assists, including a career-high 57 in a win over No. 9 Baylor.
As Tennessee's primary setter, Hayward averages 10.73 assists per set. That mark ranks fourth in the SEC and 26th nationally. Hayward also leads UT with 19 service aces.
On Sept. 17 against Purdue Fort Wayne, Hayward eclipsed the 1,000 assist mark as a Lady Vol. She currently ranks sixth all-time in Tennessee history during the rally-scoring era with 1,681 assists.
Hayward is on track to graduate later this summer with a degree in Child and Family Studies.
As first team members, Bell and Hayward will appear on the Academic All-America ballot, which will be released later this month.
Players Mentioned
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