Volleyball Trio Named MVC Scholar-Athletes

Volleyball 11/21/2017 10:40:00 AM

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Junior outside hitter Erica Haslag (Jefferson City, Mo./Helias Catholic) is a First-Team Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete, while sophomore middle blocker Kathryn Graf (Edina, Minn./Edina) and senior outside hitter Jamie Livaudais (Fenton, Mo./Rockwood Summit) both earned honorable mention Valley Scholar-Athlete recognition according to an announcement by the league office Tuesday.

An honorable mention MVC Scholar-Athlete last year, Haslag is the first Brave to earn First-Team Valley Scholar-Athlete honors since Alise Tupuritis in 2013 and Bradley had three individuals earn conference scholar-athlete honors in the same season since that same 2013 campaign.

Haslag ranks fifth in the nation in total kills through matches of Nov. 19 and is sixth in the country in total points. Her 4.38 kills per set in 2017, which ranks 20th in the NCAA, is the fifth-best season average in school history and her 530 total kills is second among Bradley season marks behind Lindsay Stalzer's 2005 MVC season record 720 kills.

The only player in program history to collect 500 kills, 25 aces, 375 digs and 45 or more blocks in a season, Haslag turned in 18 double-doubles this fall. She currently ranks eighth in school history with 1,145 career kills and is just the third individual to reach 1,000 kills as a junior. Haslag is just the fourth Bradley player with 1,100 career kills and 750 or more digs. An actuarial science major, she owns a 3.87 cumulative grade point average.

Haslag, who was named MVC Player of the Week Monday, had 20 or more kills nine times this season including a season-best 30 kills at MVC regular-season champion Missouri State. A two-time Bradley COUNTRY Financial Scholar-Athlete of the Week selection, she was named co-MVP of Bradley's CEFCU Invitational in addition to being selected as the Best Attacker at the 2017 CEFCU Classic.

Graf ranks ninth in the MVC with a team-best .268 attack percentage and her 115 blocks are the most in the MVC. An all-tournament selection at the CEFCU Invitational, Graf averaged 2.21 kills and 0.94 blocks per set this season. In MVC action she collected 2.23 kills per set.

Bradley's first player with 250 kills and 100 blocks in a season since 2014, Graf posted the highest season block total (115) since 2002. In addition, she is just the third underclassman with 100 blocks in a season over the last 18 years. A finance major, Graf owns a 3.83 cumulative grade point average.

Livaudais averaged a career-best 2.26 kills per set in her final season on The Hilltop to rank second on the team and posted 2.33 kills per set in MVC play. She reached double figures in kills 10 times this fall, including 11 kills Saturday against Indiana State in the last match of her career to move into 23rd in Bradley history with 821 career kills.

A dietetics major with a 3.90 cumulative grade point average, Livaudais averaged 4.00 kills per set with a .397 attack percentage in the two matches against Missouri State this season.

Forty-four student-athletes were nominated for the Valley's scholar-athlete team. Nominees must be starters or important reserves with at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA (on a 4.00 scale). Also, students must have participated in at least 75-percent of the regular-season matches. Student-athletes must have reached sophomore status in both athletic and academic standing at their institution (true freshmen and redshirt freshmen were not eligible).

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#12 Kathryn Graf: MB; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#3 Erica Haslag: OH; 5' 11"; Junior

#5 Jamie Livaudais: OH; 6' 1"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#12 Kathryn Graf
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: MB

#3 Erica Haslag
: 5' 11"; Junior
: OH

#5 Jamie Livaudais
: 6' 1"; Senior
: OH

Volleyball Trio Named MVC Scholar-Athletes

Players Mentioned

#12 Kathryn Graf

#3 Erica Haslag

#5 Jamie Livaudais

Players Mentioned

#12 Kathryn Graf

#3 Erica Haslag

#5 Jamie Livaudais