BURNSVILLE, MN – Former University of Indianapolis All-America libero Kyleigh Turner has been named one of eight female regional winners of the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award as announced by the organization on Monday. A male and female will be selected as the Division II Scholar-Athlete of the Year from the 16 regional recipients.

This award, sponsored by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association, provides the opportunity for Division II to highlight the extraordinary achievements of its student-athletes.  D. II CCA President and Commissioner of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Butch Raymond noted that the award showcases the academic and athletic talent at the NCAA Division II level.  “The CCA Scholar-Athlete Awards exemplify the balance between academics and athletics that is the cornerstone of Division II”, explained Raymond.

The commissioners from the regions that comprise the Division II basketball alignment selected the regional winners.  To be nominated for consideration, a student-athlete must have attained a 3.0 career cumulative grade point average and possess outstanding athletic credentials. 

Turner, a three-time All-GLVC First Team selection, graduated from UIndy as the career and season record holder for digs, excelling for the Greyhounds as a libero. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in business education and finished her college career with a 3.94 cumulative grade point average.

The 2009 American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America Third Team selection guided the Greyhounds to the school’s second GLVC Championship and to their first NCAA regional crown. She was honored at the NCAA D-II Elite Eight with the inaugural Elite 88 award and was selected as the female recipient of the Richard F. Scharf Paragon Award.

The Greyhounds’ most valuable player was also twice awarded the team’s mental attitude award and was named an All-Midwest Region player as a junior and senior. In addition to her All-America honor as a senior, Turner was also an All-America Honorable Mention pick in 2008.

She completed her career with 2,574 career digs, over 1,000 more than the previous school record holder and finished ninth all-time in service aces at UIndy. Turner was in the top-two in the GLVC in digs the past three seasons and the Greyhounds were 124-26 with Turner anchoring the back line, a school record for wins in a four-year span. 

Turner earned the GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award as a junior and senior, was a ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District Second Team pick in 2009 and was a four-time Academic All-GLVC honoree. She earned the Richard E. Schrieir Scholarship and was named a recipient of a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

The seven other women’s DII CCA Scholar-Athlete of the Year regional winners include: Cassondra Boston (Emporia State University); Anita Bulcher (Newberry College); Tori Hansen (West Liberty University); Christine Johnstone (Lynn University);  Kayla Mitchell (Colorado School of Mines); Jessica Pixler (Seattle Pacific); Kyrie Timbrook (Caldwell College).  

Men’s regional winners are:  Myles Burnsides (Northwest Missouri State); Sam Charles (Montana State, Billings); Orolando Duffus (St. Augustine’s College); Alex Gilde (Grand Valley State); Marcus Greatens (Winona State University); Malcolm Ingram (Philadelphia University); Jon Koenigsfeld (Valdosta State); Jarrell NeSmith (Tusculum College).

The national award winners will be announced in September.

For more information on the GLVC and each conference member, please visit www.glvcsports.com.