Emily Bell

Springfield, Ohio — Wittenberg University volleyball standout Emily Bell, class of 2008 from Fort Wayne, Ind., has been recognized for the combination of her athletic and academic accomplishments with first-team CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division All-District IV honors.

After making third-team academic all-district a year ago, Bell moved up to the first team in 2007, marking the latest accolade in her phenomenal Wittenberg career. A four-year starting outside hitter, Bell has been a model of consistency during her collegiate career, both on and off the court. While carrying a 3.7 grade point average, the education major is active around campus as she participates in Athletes for Christ and intramurals and also works as a tutor.

A first-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference and All-Great Lakes Region and honorable mention All-America honoree in 2005 and 2006, Bell has been a key part of the another outstanding season for the Tigers, who carry a 37-0 overall record into the NCAA Division III Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday. Bell, who recently added first-team all-conference and all-region awards for a third straight year, has ranked among the team leaders in kills, digs and service aces in each of her collegiate seasons. She ranks in the top 10 in school history in career kills and digs.

Wittenberg won the NCAC regular season title for the 12th time in the last 13 years and added a 12th NCAC Tournament title in the last 13 years a week later. The Tigers, the only unbeaten team in all of collegiate volleyball, are playing in their 13th NCAA Division III Tournament, including 12 in a row. Wittenberg will face Stevens Institute of Technology at 8:30 p.m. CDT in a quarterfinal match at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Ill.

Bell will now be considered for Academic All-America honors in voting that takes place later this month.

Photo By: Brad Tucker

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