 Chinedu Echebelem |  Jodi Hill |  Franziska Pirkl |
NEW ORLEANS — The NAIA announced Friday that three from Xavier University of Louisiana — Chinedu Echebelem, Jodi Hill and Franziska Pirkl — have been named 2014 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes in women's volleyball.
The XU student-athletes are among 445 in this sport to receive the honor this season. It's the second consecutive year that Echebelem has received it, and it's the first time for Hill and Pirkl. Xavier is one of 76 NAIA volleyball teams with three or more Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
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, a senior outside hitter from Dallas and a graduate of Duncanville High School, is a chemistry/pre-medical major and a three-time All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference selection. This year Echebelem was the GCAC Player of the Year, GCAC Player of the Week and Capital One Academic All-District 2 in the college division. She finished her XU career with 907 kills and 982 digs, both No. 2 in Gold Nuggets history.
Hill, a junior middle blocker from Prairieville, La., and a graduate of Dutchtown High School, is a political science major who was All-GCAC Tournament and GCAC Player of the Week this season. Hill was a 2014 James S. Kemper Foundation Scholar, one of 20 nationally.
Pirkl, a junior setter from Munich, Germany, and a graduate of Theodolinden Gymnasium, is a mass communications major and a three-time first-team All-GCAC selection. She was All-GCAC Tournament this year.
The Gold Nuggets were 20-6 in 2014. For the fourth consecutive year they won GCAC regular-season and tournament championships and earned the GCAC's automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship.
Xavier produced six Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes during the fall 2014 semester. Catherine Fakler and Hannah Finnegan earned the honor in women's cross country, and Brent Kitto did it in men's cross country.
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information
Director
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