XU's Echebelem is a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete

Chinedu Echebelem

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Chinedu Echebelem, one of the catalysts during the Gold Nuggets' three-year unbeaten streak in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's volleyball, has been named a 2013 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete, the NAIA announced Friday.
   
Echebelem is one of 391 to receive the honor this season and the only one from the GCAC. Echebelem is the second XU volleyball player to receive the honor — Danielle Jones in 2010 was the first.
   
Student-athletes are nominated by their institution, must maintain a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved junior academic status to qualify for Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
   
Echebelem is a junior from Dallas and a graduate of Duncanville High School. The chemistry/pre-medical major was third on the Gold Nuggets this year with 271 kills and 299 digs and second in aces with 37. She has 702 kills, 718 digs, 86 blocks and 75 aces in three seasons and was MVP of the 2012 GCAC Tournament, first-team All-GCAC in 2011 and second-team All-GCAC in 2012. Xavier is 43-0 against GCAC opponents — 32-0 in the regular season, 11-0 in the tournament — during Echebelem's tenure.
   
Xavier was 26-8 in 2013, winning GCAC regular-season and tournament championships for the third consecutive year and qualifying for a third straight NAIA National Championship. The Gold Nuggets set school records for season victories and consecutive victories (20).

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XULAATHLETICS