Program-Record Four Utes Earn CSC Academic All-District Honors

SALT LAKE CITY – University of Utah volleyball players Kamry Bailey, Allie Olsen, Emily Smith, and Amelia Van Der Werff have been named College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections, marking a program-record for Utah Volleyball. The four awards mark the first by any Ute since the 2019 season.

Smith, a two-time Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll selection, is a biomedical engineering major in her senior season with Utah Volleyball. Smith has earned the starting position at setter in 26 of the 28 matches she has played this season, while she has posted a team-best 14 double-doubles. Smith leads the team with 35 aces during the 2022 season.

Olsen, Utah's starting middle blocker, is majoring in family community human development and was a Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll selection last year. Olsen is fourth in the Pac-12 with a .369 hitting percentage so far this season, which ranks 47th nationally. The hitting percentage of .369 would rank as Utah's second-best all-time in a single season if the season were to end today. Olsen is second on the team with 86 blocks this season and she has started 27 of Utah's 29 matches. She has led the team in blocks in 10 matches this season.

Van Der Werff earns her first academic honor as a Ute after being with Utah for a full calendar year since transferring from Middle Tennessee. Van Der Werff, a junior middle blocker/opposite, is majoring in Psychology. She has started 24 matches this season and has posted 63 blocks, which is the third most on the team. She has led the team in blocks in five matches this season.

Bailey, who is wrapping up her sophomore season, earns the honor after carrying a 4.00 cumulative grade point average as a biomedical engineering major. Bailey is third on the team this season with an average of 2.39 digs per set and has seen action in 98 of Utah's 106 sets played. Bailey posted a career-best 16 digs against UCLA and has recorded 10 or more digs in nine matches this season, which ranks third on the team. She also has tallied 15 aces this season.

In order to be eligible for the CSC (formerly CoSIDA) All-District Team, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and must be a starter or key reserve. Additionally, they must have completed at least one full calendar year at their current institution. CoSIDA Academic All-America teams will be announced on Wednesday, Dec. 21.