Tusculum Duo Selected as SAC Presidents Award Winners

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Tusculum baseball student-athlete Taylor Rakes and volleyball student-athlete Ashley Sarmiento have been selected as the winners of the 2012-13 SAC Presidents Award, the highest individual honor given annually by the conference.

The SAC Presidents Award is voted on by the conference's Faculty Athletic Representative Committee. To be eligible, student-athletes must exemplify excellence in athletics, academics and community service, and must have been named the SAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in one of the league's sponsored sports.

Rakes – who becomes the eighth student-athlete in conference history to win the SAC Presidents Award in multiple seasons – was the 2013 SAC Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while Sarmiento was the 2012 SAC Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

This season also marks just the third time in league history that both the male and female Presidents Award winners come from the same member institution. Tusculum joins Wingate in 2003-04 and Presbyterian in 1990-91 in producing both recipients.

"Through their dedication to athletics, academics and service, Taylor and Ashley have been great representatives of the South Atlantic Conference," said SAC commissioner Patrick Britz. "We're very proud to present them with this prestigious award."

Rakes earned his bachelor's degree in business and economics in May 2012, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a 3.89 GPA. He is currently working towards a master's degree. Among his numerous academic accolades was a selection last month as the Capital One Baseball Academic All-American of the Year. He was also a Capital One Academic All-American in 2012.

Rakes won seven games for Tusculum in 2013, which were tied for the fourth-most in the SAC. He also tied for third in strikeouts with 84 and ranked seventh in ERA at 2.82. The left-hander was a member of the All-SAC Second Team, the SAC Gold Glove Team, the Daktronics All-Southeast Region Second Team and the NCBWA All-Southeast Region Third Team. His 26 career wins are the second-most in Tusculum history.

Away from baseball and academics, Rakes has been involved in leadership roles with numerous campus and community organizations. He was active in the Pioneer Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's efforts with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, took part in the St. Baldrick's "Basebald" cancer research fundraiser and is a former SAC Leadership Conference participant. He also volunteered with the Nettie Day of Service and provides free lawn care to families of stationed military members.

Sarmiento, meanwhile, has a 3.91 GPA studying mathematics and math education. The rising senior is a two-time Capital One Academic All-America Team selection, and has been named to the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll in each of her three years on campus.

Sarmiento also excelled on the court this season for the Pioneers, earning a spot on the All-Conference Second Team after leading the league in assists-per-set at 9.36. The TC captain was an All-Southeast Region selection by the AVCA and Daktronics as well.

Behind Sarmiento, Tusculum had one of its most successful seasons in program history in 2012, finishing as the regular-season and SAC Volleyball Championship runner-up, and reaching the regional final round of the NCAA Tournament.

Sarmiento's service efforts span groups that include "The Point" Christian organization, Ride for Life, the Greeneville Humane Society, Nettie Day of Service, Alter High School volleyball, Phoenix Rising volleyball camp and Notre Dame Catholic Church. She was president of the Pioneer Student-Athlete Advisory Committee in 2012-13, helps coordinate the Pioneer Nation fan club, and took part in last summer's SAC Leadership Conference.