December 13, 2017

CoSIDA All-America release

BLUFFTON, Ohio - Bluffton University junior ERIN WEISGARBER (Bolivar/Tuscarawas Valley) has been named First Team Academic All-America by CoSida (College Sports Information Directors of America). Weisgarber, a mathematics major with a 4.00 GPA, was one of three Heartland Conference volleyball players to earn Academic All-America honors in 2017! A three-year starter at setter for the Beavers, Weisgarber is also a two-time Academic All-HCAC performer.

Weisgarber is just the second Bluffton athlete to be named First Team Academic All-America, following in the footsteps of Jenna Eshleman who took home this honor in 2011. She is the fourth Bluffton athlete to be recognized Academic All-America. Sara Betts earned Second Team Academic All-America honors as a softball standout in 2004 before Thomas Gingrich, from football, was honored in 2012.

Erin Weisgarber conducted business as usual even though she saw 5,000 kills graduate over the past two seasons, including Bluffton's top two attackers and three of the top five all-time. Weisgarber handed out 1,021 assists (11th all-time), moving up to #3 on the all-time list with 3,392 for her career. She trails just Shauna Rowland (3,695) and Jayne Miller (4.275) following her junior campaign.

The floor maestro also leads Bluffton with 9.92 assists per set for her career, almost one assist per set more than Shauna Rowland (8.93) at number two. She earned Heartland Conference Player of the Week after leading the Beavers to a 3-0 mark during the final week of the regular season. Her .242 career hitting percentage is also 6th all-time at Bluffton thanks to 412 kills against just 128 errors. Weisgarber is a two-time First Team All-Heartland Conference performer and she was the HCAC Freshman of the Year in 2015.

To be nominated for the CoSIDA Academic All-America program, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average at his/her current institution. Nominated athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games at the position listed on the nomination form. No student-athlete is eligible until he/she has completed one full calendar year at his/her current institution and has reached sophomore athletic eligibility. The CoSIDA All-District teams are selected and voted on by the members of CoSIDA.

-BEAVERS-