SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State juniors
Brianne Dixon and
Lily Johnson were recognized for their effort in the classroom Thursday (Nov. 3) with spots on the CoSIDA Academic All-District VI First Team. As first-team selections, Dixon and Johnson automatically advance to the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration.
Dixon is the 14th volleyball player in school history to attain academic all-district status, while Johnson is the fifth to do so twice after making the team last season as well.
A junior from Wildwood, Mo., Johnson carries a 3.99 cumulative grade point average while studying cell and molecular biology. The outside hitter leads the Missouri Valley Conference with 4.55 kills and 5.13 points per set, helping the Bears (19-7, 10-2 MVC) sit alone atop the conference standings while on a 10-match winning streak.
A three-time MVC Player of the Week and Scholar-Athlete of the Week this season, Johnson is currently on a school-record streak of 37 consecutive matches with at least 10 kills, breaking her own mark in last Saturday's win against UNI. She has 10 or more kills in 73 of her last 74 matches, and is tied with Kathy Crotty for second in MSU history with 1,570 career kills as one of six players with at least 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in their Missouri State career.
Johnson also ranks second in the MVC with 0.35 aces per set, second on the Bears with 2.93 digs per set, and sixth nationally with 455 kills and 513 total points so far in 2016.
Dixon owns a perfect 4.00 GPA while also pursuing a cell and molecular biology degree. The defensive specialist from Springfield has started 22 of MSU's 26 matches this season and played in all but one of the team's 100 sets, ranking fourth on the club with 214 total digs and a 2.16 average. She also has 10 service aces and eight matches with at least 10 digs, with highs of 16 digs at Illinois State and at home against Drake.
District VI includes schools from Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletic credentials and at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) in both undergraduate and graduate work. Student-athletes must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at their current institution and must have completed at least one full academic year at that institution.
