Lauren Hochstetler named to Academic-All America First Team

AUSTIN, Texas - Mars Hill volleyball's Lauren Hochstetler was named to the 2017 Academic All-America® Division II Volleyball Team as chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Tuesday afternoon. Hochstetler was named First Team for the first time in her career.

Hochstetler is the first volleyball player in program history to earn a First Team Academic All-American selection and the first volleyball player since 1985 to get recognized by CoSIDA (Denise Groh, Honorable Mention). She is also the first female student-athlete in Mars Hill history to earn a First Team selection.

Head Coach Tony Fontanelle said of his senior outside hitter, "It has been an honor to have Lauren as part of the Mars Hill volleyball program. The example that she has set for fellow teammates and student-athletes, both on and off the court, has been something to behold." 

Hochstetler holds a 4.00 GPA while studying chemistry with minors in biology and pre-professional studies. The four-year starter placed first on the Lions in 2017 in kills (255) and service aces (29). She led the team in kills in nine contests, including a season-high 17 kill effort against Lincoln Memorial on October 10. The outside hitter finished with double-digit kills in 14 of 28 matches and recorded double-doubles in 13 of those games.

The senior from Sarasota, Florida recorded her 1,000 career kill on October 24 versus Tusculum, spiking down 12 kills and recording a season-high 32 digs in the 3-1 victory.

Throughout her career, her season totals in digs improved vastly each year (299, 319, 382, 447) as did her digs per set, culminating with a career average of 3.24.

Hochstetler played in every set over the last four years (446) for the Lions.  Captaining Mars Hill over the past three seasons, Hochstetler ends her career with 1,085 kills, 1,447 digs, 124 blocks and 118 aces.

While at Mars Hill University, Hochstetler serves as a chief marshal, member of Alpha Chi honor society, National Society of Leadership and Success and Forge ministries, while also representing the Chemistry Club as their vice president.

Hochstetler joins two other South Atlantic Conference (SAC) selections in Anderson University's Emily Conlin as well as the 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year, Lincoln Memorial's Erica Whiteaker.   

"Lauren's accomplishments on the court and in the classroom make the program, myself and the university proud," Fontanelle added.

To view the full release, please click here. To view all three teams, please click here.