AUSTIN, Texas – Junior setter Ella Gamble (Cullowhee, N.C.) and junior opposite Cassidy Perry (Frederick, Md.) of Gallaudet University were selected to the 2023 Academic All-America® Division III Women's Volleyball teams, as selected by the College Sports Communicators.
Gamble was named to the first team while Perry was picked for the third team from Gallaudet, the world's only university with programs and services specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students. The GU duo are the only representatives from the United East Conference.
The Bison pair are two of 24 honorees named to three different teams from around the country in Division III women's volleyball where 410 schools field teams. The 24 members of the 2023 Academic All-America® Division III Women's Volleyball teams have at least a 3.52 GPA, with seven student-athletes maintaining a perfect 4.00 GPA. The nine members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.79, with the entire Division III team retaining a collective average GPA of 3.84.
Gamble, a physical education and recreation major, has a 4.00 grade point average and was named the United East Women's Volleyball Offensive Player of the Year this season. The All-United East First Team setter finished the season with 1,215 assists, 10.13 assists per set, 261 digs, 92 service aces, 79 kills and 38 blocks in 35 matches. The 5-foot-10 deaf setter and Carson-Newman transfer, made an immediate impact in 2023 winning United East Player of the Week five separate times (Sept. 18, Oct. 9, Oct. 16, Oct. 30, Nov. 6) and controlled the league's most explosive offense. Gamble finished the year ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division III for service aces (92) and seventh for assists (1,215).
Perry, a sociology major, has a 3.97 grade point average and is a two-time all-conference selection. The 5-foot-10 deaf opposite/middle hitter finished the season with 361 kills, 2.98 kills per set, 92 blocks, 64 digs and 11 assists in 35 matches. The Frederick, Md., native earned three United East Player of the Week honors (Sept. 4, Sept. 11, Oct. 30), the last two were on the defensive side.
The Bison pair were also Gallaudet's lone selections to the 2023 AVCA Division III All-Region teams as honorable mention selections for Region IV.
Gamble and Perry become Gallaudet's second and third women's volleyball players to earn Academic All-America® honors as they join assistant coach and former student-athlete Ann Whited (2012), who was a third team selection. This is the second sport Perry has earned Academic Academic All-America® honors in as she was selected to the 2022-23 Division III Women's Basketball Second Team last year. Gamble becomes the sixth female in Gallaudet's history to earn Academic All-America honors.
Taylor McInerney from Lebanon Valley College, was picked Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year for Division III women's volleyball. The other first team honorees in addition to Gamble and McInerney include; Simrin Carlsen (Johns Hopkins), Mackenzie Coley (Juniata), Alyssa Dozier (Christopher Newport), Haley Holz (NYU), Georgia McGovern (Claremont), Jennifer Ngo (Case Western Reserve) and Addie VanderWeide (Hope).
To be eligible for College Sports Communicators Academic honors, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at their current institution and be nominated by their athletic communicator/sports information director. New for 2023-24, student-athletes must compete in 90 percent of the institution's games/contests played or must start in at least 66 percent of the games/contests/matches.
Gallaudet Associate Athletic Director for Communications Sam Atkinson, a College Sports Communicators Past President, nominated Gamble and Perry for this honor and has helped Gallaudet athletics increase its Academic All-America totals, ninefold, in his 14 years at the helm. Gallaudet has earned 18 Academic All-America selections in program history since the inception of the awards in 1952. Sixteen of the 18 honors have come in the last 12 years as GU earned at least one every year for six years straight (2012-17).
For more information regarding the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® program, visit https://academicallamerica.com/.
GALLAUDET'S COLLEGE SPORTS COMMUNICATORS ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA® WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL HONOREES
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About College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® Program
College Sports Communicators (CSC) began the distinguished Academic All-America® program in 1952, and since then, has honored more than 40,000 deserving student-athletes from numerous sports across all divisions with these elite Academic All-America® scholar-athlete honors. Currently, CSC honors Academic All-Americans in 16 sports.
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2023-24 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA governance structure.
For more information visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.
