Emory's Dani Huffman ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American

Just a couple of days after being named the Most Outstanding Player at the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship, Emory University senior middle hitter Dani Huffman (San Diego, CA) has earned another prestigious award by earning a third-team berth on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Volleyball Team.

The 5-foot-11 Huffman played in 39 of the team's 41 matches and led the squad with a 36.0 hitting percentage, good for a second-place tie among University Athletic Association performers, and blocks per game (0.99 bpg).  She averaged 3.11 kills per game, second on the team and fourth in the UAA. She totaled 22 contests of double-figure terminations including a career high of 25 against Ohio Northern in the national semifinals.  Her 436 kills this year placed her seventh on the school's seasonal chart while her career effort of 1,260 tied for eighth all-time at Emory. A 2008 First Team All-American, Huffman concluded her stellar career in the No. 4 spot at Emory in total blocks with 424.

Huffman was tabbed as to the Academic All-District first team earlier in the season, and began the year with a 3.84 grade-point average as a French major.

Huffman is the third Emory volleyball player ever to earn Academic All-America honors.  Previous Eagles to have earned that distinction include Laura Helton (1994 & 1995) and Liana Roman (1996).

Emory closed out the season with an overall record of 36-5, establishing a school mark for most wins in a campaign.

To be eligible for the national team, a student athlete had to have been selected to its District's first team. Initial nomination criteria at the District level includes being a varsity starter or key reserve, maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, reaching sophomore athletic and academic standing at his current institution and be nominated by their sports information director.  Emory nominees represent the College Division, which is composed of NCAA Division II, III, and NAIA school across the country.

Since the program's inception in 1952, COSIDA has bestowed Academic All America honors on more than 14,000 student athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.