OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Graduate transfer Kayla White was named one of 30 candidates for the 2021 Senior CLASS Award on Friday morning.
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 platforms in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
White graduated from Metro State University, where she was named to the Dean's List all four years. She boasted a 3.95 GPA in human performance and sport. White was named the 2021 Academic Player of the Year and also earned the 2019 Summit Award. She is now pursuing her MBA, carrying a 3.83 GPA.
White is a member of the UNCG Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was also a member at Metro State before transferring. She was the president from 2017-2021. She has earned both the Cadre Award and MSU Denver Rowdy Award.
White has been an active participant in the UNCG community. She has volunteered with Food for Thought, the Special Olympics' Polar Plunge, and Habitat for Humanity. White also traveled to Nicaragua in 2017, where she assisted in teaching English to the local elementary school students.
Early in the season, White has helped UNCG to an 14-3 start while leading the Spartans in both kills (241) and service aces (33). White is currently 11th in NCAA Division I in total attacks (723), sixth in services aces, and 25th in total kills on the season. She has career totals of 904 kills, 120 services aces, 997 digs, and 1,120.5 points.
The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists later in the 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 2021 NCAA Division I Women's
Volleyball Championship in December.
2021 Senior CLASS Award Volleyball Candidates
Rachel Ahrens, Pepperdine
Dana Axner, FGCU
Tina Boe, Denver
Julia Brown, William & Mary
Miajavon Coleman, Coppin State
Ciara Debell, Marshall
Dani Drews, Utah
Kennedy Eschenberg, BYU
Emma Granger, Robert Morris
Thayer Hall, Florida
Sydney Hilley, Wisconsin
Paige Jones, Michigan
Bailey Keith, Air Force
Nicole Lennon, Rice
Kayla Lund, Pittsburgh
Grace Massey, Oregon State
Mac May, UCLA
Jonni Parker, Penn State
Jamie Peterson, Dayton
Dana Rettke, Wisconsin
Sydney Rowan, Charlotte
Avery Skinner, Baylor
Samantha Slaughter, South Dakota
Alli Stumler, Kentucky
Lexi Sun, Nebraska
Maya Taylor, Saint Louis
Hannah Thompson, Bradley
Cortney VanLiew, FGCU
Kayla White, UNCG
Jaela Zimmerman, Creighton