BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Four members of the Bridgewater State University volleyball program have been selected to the 2024 Academic All-District® One Division III Women's Volleyball Team by the College Sports Communicators (CSC).
Earning the honor from Bridgewater State are graduate setter Bethany Votta (Cumberland, R.I.), junior outside hitter Kim Gowell (Durham, N.H.), sophomore libero Lilly Misay (New Bedford, Mass.) and sophomore outside hitter Lily Welch (Hanson, Mass.
Votta is a three-time recipient of the CSC Academic All-District® award while Gowell, Misay and Welch are first time honorees.
The four Bears are among nine members of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) to garner the accolade. They are joined by MCLA's Ezmeralda Albright, Elizabeth Brown, Chloie Garber and Audrey Melson, as well as Angela Colonis of Worcester State University.
The 2024 Academic All-District® Volleyball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes volleyball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
To be eligible for all-academic honors, a student-athlete must be a starter or a key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at her current institution and be nominated by her sports information director. A student-athlete must have also played in at least 90% of her team's matches for the 2024 season or started in 66% of the matches.
Votta, who hails from Cumberland, Rhode Island, earned a degree in psychology last May with a minor in nutrition as she recorded a career GPA of 3.80. Votta, who is pursuing a master's degree in mental health counseling, amassed 1,126 assists, 371 digs, 116 aces, 28 kills and ten blocks (two solo) in 76 matches over four seasons with the Bears. She became the tenth setter in program history to record 1,000 assists.
Gowell is a psychology major with a studio art minor who currently checks in with a 3.79 grade point average. The Durham, New Hampshire native has appeared in 50 matches over her first three seasons in a BSU uniform and has 328 kills, 17 assists, 41 aces, 146 digs, 45 receptions and 40 blocks (nine solo).
An early childhood education/childhood studies major, Misay sports a 3.68 GPA since arriving at Bridgewater State. The New Bedford, Massachusetts product has appeared in 40 matches over her first two seasons with 465 digs, 97 assists, 83 aces, eight kills and 102 receptions.
Welch, who calls Hanson, Massachusetts home, has produced a 3.70 GPA while majoring in spanish and secondary education. A 2024 All-MASCAC selection and MASCAC Tournament MVP, Welch has played in 40 matches for the Bears over her first two seasons and checks in with 320 career kills to go along with 307 digs, 16 assists, 29 aces, 35 receptions and 76 blocks (24 solo).
Votta, Gowell, Misay and Welch helped the BSU volleyball team post a 13-10 record in 2024 including a 6-1 conference mark. The Bears captured the MASCAC Tournament title with a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Westfield State University and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time since 2008 and tenth time in program history.
2024 CSC Academic All-District® Division III Volleyball Teams (PDF)