Tusculum’s Sarmiento Repeats as SAC Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. – For the second-straight season, Tusculum's Ashley Sarmiento has been selected as the SAC Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, an award representing excellence in athletics, academics, service and leadership.

Sarmiento – a senior – becomes just the third repeat winner of the award in SAC volleyball history. She was also the recipient of the prestigious SAC Presidents Award in 2012-13.

A mathematics and math education major at TC, Sarmiento currently carries a 3.93 GPA. She has twice been selected to the Capital One Academic All-America Team, and is a multi-year member of the Tusculum Dean's List, Tusculum President's List, SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, Charles Oliver Gray Honors List and Alpha Chi Honor Society.

On the court, Sarmiento is a two-time member of the All-SAC Team. She was named the SAC Freshman of the Year, the AVCA Southeast Region Freshman of the Year, and was selected to the Daktronics All-Southeast Region Team in 2010. The team captain averaged 4.01 assists and 1.90 digs per set for the Pioneers in 2013.

An active member of the Greeneville community, Sarmiento has served with groups that include Nettie Day of Service, Ride for Life, St. Charles Church, Phoenix Rising volleyball camp, Greeneville Humane Society and "The Point" Christian group. On campus, she has had roles as an elementary school mentor, a leader with service learning classes, and as a member of the Pioneer Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's leadership team – including a term as president in 2012-13.

"(Sarmiento) is a leader not only on the volleyball court, but also on campus and in the Tusculum College community," said Angela Botta, assistant professor of physical education and sports studies at TC. "She inhabits all the necessary qualities needed to represent Tusculum College, and is a young lady with a very promising future."

The SAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one student-athlete in each of the conference's 18 championship sports. Winners are selected by the SAC Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee.

Also considered:

Taylor Willis, Coker

Allison Rickher, Wingate

Rachel Harper, Carson-Newman

Samantha Parrish, Newberry

Shannon Gillespie, Anderson

Kayla Morrow, Lenoir-Rhyne