Moon Township, Pa. – Maria Alfano and Whitney Brown, recent graduates from the RMU volleyball program, were named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District 2 Team, as announced by the organization in a press release this afternoon.
This marks the first time since 2008 that RMU has had multiple CoSIDA Academic All-District selections, and it also makes Brown the second three-time Academic All-District selection in program history. The Colonials saw Alaina Gibson and Amanda Graham both earn spots on the 2008 Academic All-District 2 Team, with Graham later garnering additional nods in 2009 and 2010. Brown previously received the honor during the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
RELEASE: Announcing 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-District Football and Volleyball Teams
Alfano, a four-year starter at middle blocker, makes her first Academic All-District list after graduating with a 3.94 cumulative GPA as a biology major. She was named to the Spring Horizon League All-Academic Team for volleyball last month, and previously made three straight Northeast Conference (NEC) Commissioner's Honor Rolls from 2017-19.
The Cranberry Township, Pa. alumna was stellar in RMU's inaugural season as a Horizon League member, leading the circuit in hitting percentage (.336), while ranking seventh in blocks per set (1.00) and 10th in points per set (3.27). She was named Nike/Horizon League Player of the Week on March 18 following a two-match sweep of IUPUI, and finished her career in Moon Township slotted fifth all-time in block assists (272), sixth in hitting percentage (.311), and eighth in total blocks (310).
Last year, Brown became the first junior female student-athlete in school history to be named an Academic All-American as she made the CoSIDA Second Team. She graduated last month with a 3.97 cumulative GPA as a biology major, and joined Alfano on the Spring Horizon League All-Academic Team for volleyball. Brown also earned three straight NEC Commissioner's Honor Rolls from 2017-19 and was named the 2019 NEC Fall Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
The Pittsburgh, Pa. alumna was one of three Colonials to appear in all 16 matches this season and finished third in the Horizon League in assists per set (9.34). The 2021 Senior CLASS Award nominee ranked second on the team in digs per set (2.60) and service aces (10), and recorded five double-doubles, including a 42-assists, 19-dig performance in RMU's league debut against Oakland on Jan. 25. Brown reached the 2,000-assist milestone on Feb. 2 at UIC, and ultimately finished sixth all-time in that department with a total of 2,346.
Alfano and Brown were joined on the Academic All-District 2 Team by the Kentucky trio of Gabby Curry, Madison Lilley, and Avery Skinner, Northern Kentucky's Miranda Wurcherer, Western Kentucky's Paige Briggs, and West Virginia's Lacey Zerwas. District 2 is made up of the District of Columbia, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
The duo now advance to the national ballot for Academic All-America recognition. Brown will look to become the first female student-athlete in RMU history to make multiple Academic All-America teams.
Follow The Colonials: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Gameday App
