SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Senior Krista Goerger of the University of Sioux Falls Volleyball Team has been selected to the Academic All-America® NCAA Division II Volleyball First Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and announced today (Tuesday, July 13).

 

A chemistry/biology major, Goerger was among the seven individuals named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America first team (click here to view the CoSIDA Academic All-American release).  Goerger, who is USF Volleyball's first-ever DII first team CoSIDA Academic All-American honoree, is the only member of the NSIC named to the first team with two others from the league honored with third-team honors.

"Although it is incredibly impressive that Krista (Goerger) was selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-American 1st Team, it is not at all surprising," said USF Head Volleyball Coach Dan Mathews. "Year after year, Krista continues to represent herself, the Cougar Volleyball Team and the University of Sioux Falls in a tremendously positive light.  She applies her intelligence and work ethic to the volleyball court and the classroom in equal measure, so it follows that she would find such wonderful success on and off the court.  We are lucky to have her in our group, and I'm so pleased to see her effort recognized," added Mathews about Goerger, who was also USF's first-ever CoSIDA All-District VII honoree.

Goerger is among four of the seven members of the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Division II volleyball first team with a perfect 4.00 GPA. The aggregate GPA for the 21 CoSIDA Academic All-America® team members is 3.87.

Goerger, one of the best volleyball players in school history, was honored in 2021 with the NSIC Elite 18 Award for volleyball by maintaining the highest grade point average and most completed credits among the 16 teams in the league.

A tough-minded and focused competitor, Goerger, who has led USF to a combined 52-31 record (33-27 in league play) in three seasons, has evolved into one of the leaders on USF's Volleyball Team.  A three-time Academic All-NSIC performer, she established a USF school record career mark of 2,397 set assists over her first 78 matches.  Goerger, who this spring was named an NSIC Honor Scholar Athlete, has the program's two-top season marks for set assists average with 10.37 (94 sets) in 2019 and 10.36 (102 sets) in 2018.
 
Originally of Mankato, Minn., Goerger ranks second in assists per set at 9.0, third in career service aces with 90, eighth in digs and seventh all-time in digs per set at 1.72. She played a key role in USF's first 20-win campaign in 2018 at the DII level as the Cougars earned regional consideration and advanced to the NSIC Tournament semifinals for the first time in 2018. Additionally, she helped USF earn AVCA top-20 rankings for the first time during a 17-11 season in 2019.

The 2020-21 Academic All-District® Volleyball Teams, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field or court and in the classroom.  
The Division II Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division II national governance structure to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2020-21 Division II Academic All-America® program. Based on the absence of most fall sports competition, the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Committee revised some rules and procedures for nominating student-athletes this season. Due to the low percentage of games completed this season, the nominees were selected based on career statistics and achievements.