OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Illinois State volleyball standout Courtney Pence is one of 30 NCAA Division I volleyball student-athletes selected as a candidate for the 2018 Senior CLASS Award, the organization announced Monday.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
A libero from Springfield, Illinois, Pence has been a standout performer on the court, an exceptional student in the classroom and an active member of the Bloomington-Normal community in her four years at Illinois State.
After earning a MVC Scholar-Athlete Team Honorable Mention nod in 2016, Pence was awarded a spot on the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team last season for her continued success in the classroom. She has been named to the Illinois State AFNI Honor Roll and MVC Honor Roll in every possible semester and has also garnered the MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award the past two years. Pence also aided in the Illinois State volleyball team's efforts to earn its third NCAA Public Recognition Award overall and second year in a row, and the AVCA Team Academic Award for the 10th-consecutive season.
Entering the season as the active returning career digs leader in NCAA Division I, Pence needs just 262 to break the MVC career digs mark of 2,656 set back in 2010, and is 29 digs shy of jumping into second all-time in the league. With her single-season record of 821 digs set in 2017, Pence helped Illinois State to a program record of 2,515 team digs last season.
Despite the expectations of student-athletes to perform well in the classroom and on the court, Pence doesn't see that as an excuse to not give back to her community. Pence views her love of kids as an opportunity to share the sport she loves with those aspiring to play it. She has helped with Illinois State's volleyball clinics each of her four years with the program, as well as volunteered with Eastview Church's volleyball league. She has served as a recess and lunch buddy at local schools, volunteered at Hudson Elementary School, worked with handicapped adults through MarcFirst and has spent time assisting with the Special Olympics.
The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship in December.
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