Spartan Volleyball Student-Athlete Named ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District

AURORA, Ill. November 10, 2008 - Aurora University Spartan volleyball junior middle hitter Jill Smart (Grayslake, IL/Grayslake H.S.) was named to the ESPN the Magazine District V Academic All-District Third-Team.

To be considered for the honor, the nominated student-athletes are required to maintain a minimum 3.30 cumulative grade point average throughout their academic career at AU.

Smart, a nursing major at AU, was honored for her academic success as a student-athlete. Smart is no stranger to post season academic recognition; in 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 she was named a Northern Athletics Conference Scholar-Athlete.

On the court she was a Northern Athletics Conference Second-Team All-Conference member as a sopohomore and as a freshman was named to the NAC All-Rookie Team. This season, Smart averaged 3.07 kills and 0.97 blocks per game and was named to two all-tournament teams, AU Jim Coleman Classic and Benedictine University Eagle Invitational.

The Spartans finished the 2008 season with a 7-24 overall record and were 6-6 in Northern Athletics Conference play.

The ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District teams are selected by CoSIDA member Sports Information Directors within the district based on the student-athletes’ academic prowess while being a steady influence on their respective athletic field.

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