@CanesVB's Leaf & Sims Named All-ACC Academic
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The University of Miami volleyball program had two representatives on the 2014 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Volleyball team, including the 2014 Atlantic Coast Conference Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year Savanah Leaf.
Joining Leaf on the 31-member 2014 All-ACC Academic Team is fellow senior Emani Sims. Leaf and Sims are two of 19 student-athletes to earn All-ACC accolades, as well as All-ACC Academic honors for the 2014 season. To be eligible for consideration for the All-ACC Academic Team, a student-athlete must have earned a 3.00 grade point average for the previous semester and maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during her academic career.
“We are so proud of Savanah and Emani,” Miami head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara said. “Both of them worked hard to excel on the court and in the classroom. Emani earned her bachelor’s degree after her junior season and is working towards completing her master’s, while Savanah graduated a semester early and is currently pursuing a professional volleyball career. It’s great to see them honored for their success as student-athletes.”
A psychology major from San Anselmo, Calif., Leaf was named the ACC Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year after a sensational 2014 year on and off the court. She graduated in December 2014 with a 3.86 cumulative GPA, earning her bachelor’s degree in Human and Social Development and Psychology. The ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards were established in September 2007 to be awarded annually to the top junior or senior student-athlete in their respective sports. Candidates for the awards must have maintained a 3.0 grade point average for their career as well as a 3.0 for each of the last two semesters.
The senior outside hitter is a two-time ACC Honor Roll student-athlete and was also named a 2014 Capital One Academic All-American. On the court, Leaf was named to the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association All-America Second Team and was selected to the AVCA East Coast All-Region Team. Following a stellar senior season, she was named ACC Player of the Year and an All-ACC First Team member. Leaf finished her career ranking fifth in program history with 1,194 kills and ranks ninth in program history with 87 service aces. This is her third All-ACC Academic honor.
Sims wraps up an outstanding career at the University of Miami with her third All-ACC Academic selection. A 2014 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention selection, Sims also earned AVCA East Coast All-Region and All-ACC First Team honors following her final season in orange and green. The middle blocker earned All-Tournament honors at both the HotelRED Invitational and the TCU Nike Invitational after entering the season as a Preseason All-ACC selection.
“It’s always so rewarding to be chosen for an All-ACC Academic Team because it really shows that all the work you put into being a student-athlete on and off the court is beneficial. I take pride in my play with my team and in my work in the classroom, so it means a lot to get this recognition for the third time.”
The Glenview, Ill., native led Miami with a .372 attack percentage that ranked fourth in the ACC and was the team leader in blocks with 136 (17 solo). She ranked fourth on the team with 226 kills and her 16 services aces were third-most on 2014 squad. Sims finished her career as the UM all-time leader in attack percentage (.339) and block assists (491), while ranking second in UM history in total blocks (554). After earning a bachelor’s degree in advertising in May 2014, Sims has a 3.8 cumulative GPA and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in communications.
Thirteen of the ACC’s schools are represented on this year’s All-ACC Academic Team, led by Duke with five honorees. Florida State and Virginia Tech have four student-athletes recognized, while Georgia Tech and Louisville have three representatives. Clemson, Miami and Wake Forest have two members, while Boston College, NC State, Pitt and Syracuse all have one student-athlete apiece.
View the entire 2014 All-ACC Academic team by clicking here.
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