June 8, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF's Jenny Heppert (Lawrence, Kan.) was the recipient of the Conference USA Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award, league commissioner Britton Banowsky announced Monday. The award is presented to the top student-athletes in each conference-sponsored sport based on academic achievement (GPA), athletic achievement and service.
"We are extremely proud of Jenny Heppert's accomplishments both on and off the volleyball court," Senior Associate AD for Student Services Jessica Reo said. "Throughout her four-year career, Jenny has embodied what a true student-athlete is and this award from C-USA is evidence of that. She worked hard both academically and athletically and her persistence, energy and focus have definitely paid off."
Heppert was the only Knight to receive an honor voted on by the league's Board of Directors, as nine of C-USA's 12 institutions had at least on scholar-athlete selected. Rice led the way with four recipients, while SMU had three scholar-athletes named.
"Just when we thought that Jenny Heppert's legacy was signed and sealed, she continues to gain these unbelievable honors and awards," head coach Todd Dagenais said. "The UCF family and the UCF volleyball program is very proud of her. This only strengthens the legacy that she leaves for the UCF volleyball program and will inspire all future UCF players to achieve at the highest possible level on the court and in the classroom."
UCF volleyball's first ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® honoree after being named to the second team this season, Heppert recently graduated with her undergraduate degree in biology, holding a 4.0 cumulative GPA.
In her senior season, the middle blocker also garnered ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III First Team honors and a spot on the C-USA All-Academic Team for the second-straight year, while being named UCF's Scholar-Athlete of the Year at the annual All-Sports Banquet.
Heppert has been a recipient of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal and a member of the Commissioner's Honor Roll all four years as a Knight, while also serving as co-president of the UCF Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Heppert's name has graced the UCF President's Honor Roll and the Athletic Director's Honor Roll every semester she has studied at UCF.
On the court, Heppert played in 31 matches in 2008 and led the team in attack percentage (.323), block assists (93), total blocks (103), blocks per set (0.84), service aces (27) and service aces per set (0.22). The senior's attack percentage also ranked sixth among her C-USA peers.
In four seasons with the Knights, Heppert ranks third all-time at UCF in total blocks (375) and block assists (319), while ranking fifth all-time in block solos (56) and eighth in service aces (139), aces per set (0.35) and sets played (402).
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