Logan Eggleston from the University of Texas, Madison Lilley of the University of Kentucky, Dana Rettke from the University of Wisconsin and Stephanie Samedy are the four finalists for the Class of 2021 Honda Sport Award for Volleyball as announced by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) today.
The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 45 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”. The winner of the sport award becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2021 Honda Cup which will be presented on a telecast on CBS Sports Network, on June 28th, at 9 pm ET.
The volleyball finalists were selected by a panel of coaches and experts from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). The Honda Sport award winner for volleyball will be announced next week after voting by administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Each NCAA member institution has a vote.
Eggleston, a junior outside hitter from Brentwood, Tenn., was the 2020-21 Big 12 Player of the Year and a two-time AVCA All-American, including first-team honors this season. She led her team to the 2020-21 NCAA Championship runner-up and was named to the 2020-21 NCAA All-Tournament team. She led the Big 12 with 5.34 points per set and 0.49 service aces per set and finished second in the league in kills (4.57).
Lilley is a senior setter from Overland Park, Kansas, and was recently named the 2020-21 AVCA Player of the Year. She is a four-time AVCA All-American, including first-team honors this season and led Kentucky to the 2020-21 NCAA National Championship. She was named the 2020-21 NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player after posting a career-high 19 digs in the championship match and adding 53 assists. She was the 2020-21 SEC Player of the Year.
Rettke is a two-time Honda Award finalist and a four-time AVCA first-team All-American. She is the first Badger ever to earn four first-team All-America awards and just sixth player ever. The senior middle blocker from Riverside, Ill., is also a four-time Big Ten first-team honoree and was last year’s Big Ten Player of the Year. She was a 10-time Big Ten Player of the Week, setting the UW record for most career POW honors.
Samedy, a senior opposite hitter from Clermont, Fla., was recently named the 2020-21 Senior CLASS Award winner for volleyball and was named the 2020-21 Big Ten Player of the Year. She is a three-time first-team AVCA All-American and four-time All-American overall. She finished her senior year with 1,485 career kills, which ranks 10th all-time in Gopher history and is a seven-time career Big Ten Player of the Week and three-time AVCA National Player of the Week.
The CWSA, celebrating its 45th anniversary year, has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs.
About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility
For more than 60 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. Honda’s mission is to create products and services that improve the lives of people while conducting its business in a sustainable manner and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Accordingly, Honda believes in helping people reach their life’s potential through its focus on improving children’s health, inspiring underrepresented students, preserving the environment for future generations, creating safety for everyone, and strengthening our communities. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.