Abbey Bessler Named Candidate for Senior CLASS Award

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Xavier volleyball player Abbey Bessler was named one of 30 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award. The award recognizes student-athletes who excel both on and off the volleyball court.

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. Bessler was one of four BIG EAST volleyball players named to the list.

The Hebron, Ky., native leads the team in kills (274) and points (304), while ranking second in digs (182). She also ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in kills and fifth in points.

The 2015 BIG EAST Player of the Year is the all-time leader at Xavier in points and attack attempts. She also currently ranks third in career kills and sixth in digs.

SENIOR CLASS AWARD

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

Of the 30 candidates, 27 have grade-point averages of 3.0 or higher, including 14 who maintain above a 3.5. Fifteen are returning American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Americans, and nine are members of teams ranked in the AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll. Outside of academics and athletics, all candidates also have been consistently involved in community service on their campus or in their communities.

The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists later in the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2016 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship in December.

COMPLETE LIST

Inky Ajanaku, Stanford
Dani Mostrom, Wichita State
Jazzmin Babers, Texas A&M
Demi Muses, New Hampshire
Abbey Bessler, Xavier
Meghan Niemann, Marquette
Jess Bird, Creighton
Kayla Ostrom, Lipscomb
Amy Boswell, BYU
Megan O'Sullivan, Fairfield
Katie Brand, Kansas State
Chloe Reinig, Michigan State
Hayley Farrer, Idaho State
Kadie Rolfzen, Nebraska
Claire Felix, UCLA
Keelin Severtson, New Hampshire
Tessa Fournier, Seton Hall
Ashley Smith, TCU
Janey Goodman, James Madison
Lauren Smith, Creighton
Carly Kan, Missouri
Hannah Tapp, Minnesota
Grace Kauth, Cleveland State
Paife Tapp, Minnesota
Hannah Klemm, Hofstra
Teegan Van Gunst, Georgia Tech
Valeria Leon, Ohio State
Cassie Wait, Kansas
Laini Leindecker, Albany
Taylor Whittingham, Southern California

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