Tusculum’s Sarmiento Selected as SAC Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Tusculum junior Ashley Sarmiento has been named the 2012 SAC Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, an award which recognizes her achievements on the court, in the classroom and as a campus leader.
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Tusculum junior Ashley Sarmiento has been named the 2012 SAC Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, an award which recognizes her achievements on the court, in the classroom and as a campus leader.
Sarmiento becomes the third Tusculum student-athlete to earn SAC Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors, joining Alexis Rowles in 2007 and Sierra Harlacher in 2001. The award, which is presented to one student-athlete in each of the conference's 14 championship sports, is selected by the league's Faculty Athletic Representatives.
Sarmiento was key in leading TC to a 20-6 record during the regular season, including a 14-4 SAC record and the No. 2 seed in the Food Lion SAC Volleyball Championship. The Dayton, Ohio native led the league in assists per set during the regular season with an average of 9.98.
She was the SAC and AVCA Southeast Region Freshman of the Year in 2010 and is a two-year TC team captain.
A mathematics and math education major, Sarmiento currently holds a 3.91 GPA. She was a Capital One Academic All-America Second Team honoree in 2011, and has been a multi-year selection to the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, the Tusculum Dean's List, the Tusculum President's List and the Charles Oliver Gray Honors List.
On campus, Sarmiento has spearheaded the growth of Pioneer Nation, TC's athletic fan club. She is a member of the school's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and took part in last summer's SAC Leadership Conference.
Sarmiento has volunteered with programs that include Tusculum Mentor for Kids, Nettie Day of Service, Ride for Life and Greeneville Humane Society. She is also involved with youth ministry at Notre Dame Catholic Church.
"Ashley sets a high bar as a role model, as she is known for her commitment to giving 100-percent both on and off the court," said Tusculum Dean of Students David M. McMahan. "She pursues all of these endeavors with seeming equal intensity and is a wonderful example of a student-athlete who is getting the most from her educational opportunity."
Added TC men's basketball coach Michael Jones, who has worked with Sarmiento on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee: "Her superior character and integrity while pursuing her goals both in the classroom and on the court is inspiring."