Newberry's Elayni Stokes Tabbed South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Newberry's Elayni Stokes was voted the South Atlantic Conference volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the League announced today.  She earned the honor for her achievements in academics, athletics, service and leadership.

The South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one student-athlete in each of the Conference's championship sports, and is voted on by the SAC's Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee.

Stokes, a senior mathematics education major, carries a 3.97 GPA.  She has been named to the Dean List all six semesters and earned South Atlantic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll honors on three occasions.  During her sophomore and junior seasons, Stokes earned the Division II Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award.  She was also tabbed a Capital One Academic All-District honoree at the conclusion of this past season.

Stokes currently holds the Newberry record for career digs with 2,061.  She set the Wolves' single-season record with 595 digs during the 2012 campaign and bettered her mark with 606 digs during the 2013 season.  She led the South Atlantic Conference with 598 digs and 5.03 this past season, while earning Newberry Invitational All-Tournament honors as she amassed 88 digs in the four-game span.

In the community, Stokes spent time at local elementary schools tutoring students in various subjects.  She also volunteered with the Living Hope After-School Program in Newberry.  She is a volunteer for the University Baptist Church Children's Ministry where she assisted with supervising and teaching youth camps.  Stokes tutored an 18-year old girl in english and mathematics to aid her progress toward obtaining her GED.  In her hometown of Houston, Texas, Stokes serves as an assistant coach at Clear Lake High School volleyball camps.

She is also very active on the Newberry campus as she currently serves as the Vice President for the Newberry Chapter of Society of Undergraduate Mathematicians and the Secretary for the Blue Key Honor Society.  Stokes is a member of the Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society as well as the Summerland Honors Program.  She also serves as a student worker for the Newberry College of Education Department.

Others Nominated
Shannon Gillespie, Anderson
Aleksandra Vrvilo, Brevard
Rachel Harper, Carson-Newman
Tayor Houser, Catawba
Samantha Celek, Coker
Andie Russell, Mars Hill
Megan Hasse, Tusculum
Lexi Potter, Wingate