AUSTIN, Texas – The 2017 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America Volleyball Teams were announced Wednesday morning and Gustavus junior setter Nora Holtan (Rochester, Minn.) has been named to the seven-member Second Team. The CoSIDA Academic All-America Teams recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.
Nora Holtan
“Nora works as hard in the classroom as she does in the gym and has very high standards for herself in both,” Head Coach Rachelle Sherden said. “Her extraordinary discipline has paid off and will serve her well beyond her time as a student-athlete at Gustavus.”
A psychological science and exercise physiology major with a 3.85 GPA, Holtan’s Academic All-America honor adds to a decorated list of awards by the junior setter. Holtan was also named AVCA First Team All-America and MIAC Player of the Year, both for the second consecutive season. After the Gusties claimed the program’s first ever NCAA region championship, Holtan was named the St. Paul region’s Most Outstanding Player.
Holtan directed an attack that resulted in a NCAA “Elite 8” appearance for the second time in program history and she finished the season with 1,180 assists (10.09 per set) – 13th most in the NCAA – 39 services aces, 349 digs (2.98 per set), 168 kills (1.44 per set), and 34 blocks. After three seasons wearing the Black and Gold, Holtan has accumulated 3,379 assists, which ranks fourth in program history and is 823 away from surpassing Jess Lobben’s (1993-96) program record 4,201 career assists. As a true all-around volleyball player, Holtan also has 912 digs and 481 kills in three seasons. She is on the verge of becoming the first Gustavus volleyball player to record over 3,000 assists, 1,000 digs, and 500 kills.
Holtan becomes the 109th all-time CoSIDA Academic All-American in Gustavus Athletics history, but the first to be honored as a volleyball student-athlete. Gustavus has the 11th most Academic All-Americans in NCAA Division III history and the most in the MIAC. Head Baseball Coach Brad Baker ’80 earned the College’s first Academic All-America award in 1979.