Townsend Repeats as Elite 90 Award Winner

Photo Credit: Sydney_Townsend
Thu, 12/14/2017 - 09:10

By NU Athletic Communications | 12/13/2017

Nebraska senior defensive specialist Sydney Townsend received the 2017 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Elite 90 award on Wednesday night at the NCAA Championship banquet in Kansas City, Missouri. Townsend earned her second straight Elite 90 award and is one of two Division I women's volleyball student-athletes all-time to earn multiple Elite 90 awards in a career. 

The Elite 90 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships. Townsend, majoring in biochemistry, carries a 3.83 cumulative GPA. A Lincoln Pius X graduate, Townsend is a four-time academic All-Big Ten selection and a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. 

The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. 

Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.

For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, log on to NCAA.com/elite-90.