Four MCLA Volleyball Players Earn CSC Academic All-District Honors

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— Junior libero Ellie Walter-Goodspeed (Auburn, WA), junior outside hitter Chloie Garber (Eagle River, AK), sophomore outside hitter Elizabeth Brown (Lee, MA), and sophomore outside hitter Audrey Melson (Champlin, MN) have earned All-District recognition by the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American program.

This was the first time Walter-Goodspeed, Garber, Brown, or Melson earned a CSC Academic All-American program designation. Along with soccer players Alyssa Porter and Tyler Cotting, who were announced previously, it is the first recognition for an MCLA athlete by CSC since 2019, when softball outfielder Kaitlyn Berghela was named to the Academic All-American Division III third team.

Walter-Goodspeed crossed the 1000 dig milestone this season, impressively doing so in only three years. She was a member of the MASCAC All-Conference second team in 2022. Walter-Goodspeed played in 21 of the Trailblazer's 26 games this season, starting all 21. She Recorded a season-high five services aces in a three sets to one victory at Bridgewater State on October 25th. For her career, Walter-Goodspeed has appeared in 68 matches across three seasons with the Trailblazers and has averaged more than four digs per set (4.22). Walter-Goodspeed is studying psychology with a concentration in behavior analysis.

Garber played in all 26 of MCLA's matches this year and was among the national leaders in service aces (81, eighth nationally and first in the MASCAC) and points per set (3.73, 140^th nationally, and first in the MASCAC). Garber is among only 25 players in the country to have recorded a triple-double this season when she had 15 kills, 12 service aces, and 15 digs in the Trailblazers MASCAC quarter-final win against Fitchburg State. Garber has been named to the MASCAC All-Conference teams each of the last three seasons, earning first-team honors in 2022 and second-team honors in 2021 and 2023. For her career, Garber has appeared in 74 matches across three seasons for MCLA. Garber is majoring in health sciences with a concentration in sports medicine and a minor in sports coaching.

A sophomore transfer from Ellsworth Community College, Melson was among the team leaders in most offensive categories and the top 10 in the MASCAC in kills. She reached double-digits in saves nine times this season, including 13 in 24 attacks (.500 hitting percentage) in the Trailblazers MASCAC semi-final at Worcester State. Melson appeared in all 26 of MCLA's matches this season, starting 17. Melson is majoring in sports medicine with a concentration in pre-physical therapy and a minor in sports coaching.

Brown was in the top 10 of the MASCAC in multiple offensive and defensive categories this season, including kills, kills per set, points, digs, digs per set, and service aces. She is a two-time member of the MASCAC All-Conference second team, being named as a first year in 2022 and again this season. For her career, Brown has appeared in all 50 matches across two seasons for MCLA. Garber is majoring in biology with a concentration in pre-veterinary and a minor in business administration.

Per the College Sports Communicators (previously known as COSIDA) website, the Academic All-American is a title reserved for college student-athletes who perform at an elite level in their chosen sport and in the classroom. The all-time list of 40,000+ Academic All-Americans includes major sports stars and some of the world's most accomplished individuals in medicine, business, science, and the arts. Established in 1952 and selected by College Sports Communicators, Academic All-America is the longest-running and premier award for athletic and academic success across championship college sports at all NCAA levels, the NAIA, two-year colleges, and Canadian institutions. Teams are announced year-round and amplified by CSC member colleges, universities, and conferences on a wide local, regional, national, and even international scope.

To be eligible for consideration, student-athletes must demonstrate the best traits of a student-athlete, both on and off the playing field. Among the requirements are:

• Outstanding student-athletes are nominated for Academic All-District® recognition by communications directors and must have a minimum 3.50 GPA and meet high athletic standards. (25,000+ nominations annually)
• A select group of student-athletes advances to the national ballot, where CSC members vote on Academic All-America teams. (approximately 2,000 selections annually)
• A Team Member of the Year is selected in each sport and division. (66 recipients)
• An overall Academic All-America of the Year is selected as the top student-athlete across all sports in each NCAA and NAIA division. (4 recipients)

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