Volleyball Southern Conference

CofC's Ballard Named to Academic All-America First Team

CHARLESTON, SC- Stephanie Ballard was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America University Division Women's volleyball first team that was announced today. The senior has posted a cumulative 3.97 GPA and led the Cougars in kills this past season.
Ballard is a senior Corporate Communications major and is a two year captain of the Cougars. Charleston finished the season at 28-6 overall and won the SoCon co-South Division regular season championship with a record of 17-1. The Cougars advanced to the finals of the SoCon Tournament before falling to Georgia Southern in a five game match. The team has won a SoCon record 29 consecutive home conference matches and also set a conference record with a 29 match conference winning streak that was snapped earlier this season.
Ballard led the team with 469 kills this season and ranked fourth in the conference with 4.15 kills per game. The outside hitter finishes her Charleston career as the program's all-time leader in career digs with 1599 digs. She is also in second place on the school's all-time kill list with 1804 career kills. Ballard was named to the 2003 Southern Conference first-team All-Conference this season.
"Athletics provides a structure and it has made me a more organized student" said Ballard. "Working hard in the classroom has become a tradition in our program with the seniors setting the tone for the younger players."
Ballard was named to the Academic All-District Three First team in 2002 when the team captured the Southern Conference tournament title and advanced the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.