Rohde Named Volleyball Student-Athlete of the Year
12/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Dec. 13, 2006
FRISCO, Texas - Stephen F. Austin's Traci Rohde has been named the 2006 Capitol One/Southland Conference Volleyball Student-Athlete of the Year as voted upon by the Awards Committee and released by the league office Wednesday. Rohde is one of five volleyball student-athletes at SFA to be honored by the conference. Seniors Stephanie Figgers, a first-team pick, and Laura Cramer, named to the third-team, made their return to the academic all-conference list while sophomores Lauren Railey, first-team, and Shelly Swendig, third-team, made their debut.
In addition to leading Stephen F. Austin to its third consecutive regular-season conference title, Rohde led the Ladyjacks to an overall record of 31-4 and its first SLC Tournament title since 1999. The Norman, Okla., native and SFA represented the conference in the NCAA tournament, defeating Alabama 3-2, to become the first Southland team to win in post-season play since 1989.
Starting all 35 matches in 2006, Rohde set the SFA record for block assists in a season with 152, breaking the old record by 10. Rohde's 169 total blocks rank as the second-best at SFA with an average of 1.37 blocks per game for first all-time at SFA. The 6-2 junior posted 481 kills for third in the conference with double-digit kills in 29 of 35 matches with a career high .625 hitting percentage, while scoring 608 total points to lead the conference.
Rohde's performance off the court was equally impressive. A communications disorders major, Rohde picks up her second consecutive Academic All-SLC first team honor. She was also named to the Dean's List each semester from Fall 2004 to Fall 2006, maintaining a minimum 3.5 GPA. The conference office also acknowledged Rohde's efforts as she appeared on the Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll in 2004 and 2005.
Figgers ended her four-year career at SFA as the all-time digs leader and finished just short of the NCAA record. Her career digs average of 5.50 is also tops at SFA. She is a two-time first team All-SLC pick and a three-time SLC Libero of the Year and was named the 2006 SLC Player of the Year after posting a career-high and SFA record 853 digs on the season, averaging 6.93 digs per game to rank second in the NCAA. This is the second straight season the 5-4 Katy, Texas, native, a pre-pharmacy major, has been named first-team academic all-conference.
Railey made her academic all-conference debut on the first-team list. Because of award protocol, this was the first season the pre-vet major was eligible for the award. Railey, the 2005 SLC Freshman of the Year, started all 35 matches for the Ladyjacks and posted multiple double-doubles in kills and digs throughout the season. Her efforts earned her a second-team All-SLC nod, a spot up from a third-team pick in 2005.
Swendig earned a second-team spot on the academic all-conference list in her first season eligible for the award. Cramer, whose season was shortened by an injury, earned third-team academic All-SLC honors. It was the second straight season Cramer was named to the academic list.
The Ladyjacks had the most players named academic all-conference with five. In order to qualify for the award, players must have completed at least one year in school and have at least a 3.2 GPA.
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