ABILENE – Abilene Christian junior
Caley Johnson Thursday was listed among eight NCAA Division II volleyball players named to the Capital One Academic All-District 6 First Team selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). District 6 includes all student-athletes competing within the confines of the Great American, Heartland, Lone Star and Mid-America conferences.
As an accounting major with a 4.0 grade-point average, CoSIDA voters have twice honored the La Vista, Neb., native in as many years. Johnson made its all-district second team in 2011 and later was tabbed to the Lone Star Conference's all-academic team and commissioner's honor roll.
Johnson also has been named to ACU's Dean's List on four occasions and is a recipient of the school's Chancellor's Award for Academic Excellence.
She is the third Wildcat voted first team all-district this fall, joining soccer players Julie Coppedge and Arielle Moncure.
Johnson began her ACU career as a setter, but transitioned into the role of a defensive specialist at the start of 2012. She has appeared in all but one match this season and has contributed 196 digs, 23 assists and four service aces.
Early in 2011, Johnson was named the LSC's Co-Setter of the Week after collecting 113 assists through four matches at the St. Mary's Classic. She then recorded a season and career high 51 assists in a five-set win at Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Johnson played in 10 sets behind All-South Central Region setter IJ Moronu as a freshman in 2010, recording 30 assists and 17 digs.
For obtaining first team all-district status, Johnson will have her name forwarded onto the national Capital One Academic All-America ballot. Only Academic All-America Committee members and current CoSIDA Board of Directors vote upon the national awards.
To be nominated for academic all-district, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) at his or her current institution and must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games. No student-athlete is eligible until he/she has completed one full calendar year at his/her current institution and has reached sophomore athletic eligibility.
ACU volleyball concludes its regular season this weekend with matches Friday and Saturday night at Cameron and Midwestern State.
