Colorado University Athletics
Five Buffs Earn Pac-12 All-Academic Honors
November 30, 2017 | Volleyball
SAN FRANCISCO — Colorado senior Stephanie Shadley was tabbed to the Pac-12 All-Academic Volleyball second team for the second straight year, while four other Buffs, Naghede Abu, Anna Pfefferle, Alexa Smith and Rachel Whipple, were selected to the honorable mention squad.
This is Shadley's third overall academic honor, her second straight on the second team. She was also an honorable mention selection in 2015. Pfefferle is also making her third overall appearance, while it is the second for Abu and the first for Smith.
To be eligible for selection to the academic team, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.0 overall grade-point average and be either a starter or significant contributor.
Shadley, an outside hitter, is a double-major in communication and the classics and owns a 3.57 GPA. She has played an important role this season coming off the bench to play a variety of positions. Shadley has seen time in 28 matches, which includes three starts. She has recorded 30 kills, four assists, seven aces, 66 digs and 10 blocks in 73 sets played.
Abu, a middle blocker, has earned a 3.27 GPA while majoring in accounting and finance with a leadership minor. She has started in all 31 contests and is one of three Buffs who played in all 119 sets. She ranks sixth in the Pac-12 with a .347 hitting percentage and is tied for seventh with 1.20 blocks per set. In addition, she is averaging 2.09 kills per set.
Pfefferle, another middle blocker, is a management major with a 3.49 GPA. She is averaging 0.87 blocks per set, which is second on the team. She has started in all 31 matches and is one of three Buffs to play in all 119 sets. Pfefferle is averaging 1.44 kills per set and is attacking at a .312 clip. She has also served up 17 aces this season.
Smith is an outside hitter who has recorded a 3.09 GPA while majoring in marketing. She leads the team and ranks seventh in the Pac-12 with 4.01 kills per set and 4.41 points per set, and adds 2.90 digs per set and 0.39 blocks per set. Smith has started in 29 matches and has seen time in 113 sets this campaign. She has recorded 20 or more kills in eight matches this season.
Whipple, a defensive specialist, has earned a 3.65 GPA while majoring in integrative physiology. She has seen time in 28 of 31 matches, and has played in 86 sets. Whipple is averaging 1.22 digs per set and has added 12 service aces.
2017 Pac-12 All-Academic – Women's Volleyball
Second Team
Honorable Mention
