CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Junior
Faith Panhans highlighted the 2021 Southland Conference Volleyball All-Academic Teams by earning Student-Athlete of the Year, and was one of four student-athletes from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to be distinguished.
Panhans was tabbed to the All-Academic First-Team along with senior
Rachel Young and
Carissa Barnes, while senior
Julia Carter was recognized on the Second-Team. Young became a three-time SLC All-Academic honoree, while Panhans and Barnes are now two-time selections.
"Our team has had a tremendous season and these four student-athletes shined on the court throughout conference play," said head coach
Steve Greene. "With all the rigors of high level Division I volleyball, including back-to-back Southland Tournament Championships and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, they have been able to balance that while succeeding academically as well."
Panhans is the third Islander in program history to win Student-Athlete of the Year along with Brittany Gilpin in 2016 and
Madison Green in 2019.
Panhans, from Plano, Texas, was the SLC Player and Setter of the Year. She carries a cumulative 4.0 GPA in her elementary education curriculum. She ranked first for setters and third overall in the league in hitting percentage and was a three-time SLC Offensive Player of the Week winner.
Barnes, a native of Weatherford, Texas, was the SLC Tournament MVP and back-to-back SLC Libero of the Year winner. She holds a 3.89 GPA and is majoring in Kinesiology. Barnes, who leads the nation in digs per set, was named SLC Defensive Player of the Week seven times.
Young, a Frisco, Texas product, earned a spot on both the All-Conference First-Team and SLC All-Tournament Team. She hoists a 4.0 GPA and is studying toward a master's degree in business administration. Young led the league in hitting percentage and hit above .300 in nine of 14 SLC matches.
Carter, from Buffalo, N.Y., registered 169 kills with a 1.80 kills per set average. She's maintained a cumulative 4.0 GPA and is pursuing a degree in psychology. Carter notched double-figures in kills in matches against Texas State and McNeese in the championship.
The Islanders won both the SLC regular season and conference tournament championships. They made their second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and fourth in program history.
"I am so proud of our team for the high academic standards they hold themselves to and the skills they learn and opportunities that will be available to them because of their successes," Greene said.
Click here to view the full SLC All-Academic Teams.
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