Former Emory Volleyball All-American Dani Huffman A Finalist For NCAA Woman of the Year Award

Former Emory volleyball All-American Dani Huffman is one of nine finalists for the 2009 NCAA Woman of the Year Award that will be presented in October.

The annual honor, which will be presented October 18 during a banquet in Indianapolis, recognizes female student-athletes who have excelled in athletics, academics and service and leadership.

Huffman closed out her career in grand style in 2008, earning First Team All-America honors and guiding the Eagles' volleyball team to the program's first-ever NCAA Championship.  Tabbed as the Most Outstanding Player at the NCAA Championships, she was chosen to the All-UAA First Team for the second straight season. Huffman shined in the academic realm as well, becoming the third spiker in Emory history to earn the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Award.

The nine finalists are Amanda Blumenherst (Duke, golf); Ashleigh Clare-Kearney (LSU, gymnastics); Julia Hopson (Fredonia State, track and field); Dani Huffman (Emory, volleyball); Venessa Lee (Pittsburg State, cross country/track and field); Tracy Menzel (Kenyon, swimming and diving); Lacey Nymeyer (Arizona, swimming and diving); Ashley Puga (Northwest Nazarene, cross country/track and field); and Kathleen Tafler (Grand Valley State, soccer).

The finalists - three from each NCAA division - advanced from an initial pool of 132 nominees from conferences and independent institutions that was then narrowed to 30 semifinalists - 10 each from Divisions I, II and III.

To learn more about the nine finalists, click here