PORTLAND, Ore. – There's smart …
 
… and then there's record-setting smart.
 
That second one is an accurate descriptor for the Seattle Pacific volleyball team.
 
Led by three-time honorees Ashley Antoniak, Paige Dawson, Austin Ibale, and Lindsey Lambert, the Falcons placed 15 players onto the Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Academic volleyball team that was announced on Wednesday.
 
The total is the highest ever by one GNAC school for volleyball in the 22-year history of the conference.
 
 

"It's been really fun to see how much these athletes care about their schoolwork as well as their on-court performances," head coach Jason Rhine said. "I couldn't have asked for a better group in terms of their own personal accountability for their studies and for pushing each other to be better in the classroom. That sets them up for success later in life."
 
It's the second year in a row SPU has had a record-setting total. But last season, it was shared with Central Washington, as both schools had 14 on the squad.
 
 

"The women who are currently in our volleyball program are spectacular. They work really hard in the classroom, on the court, and as people," said Shelby Stueve, Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Student Success. "I'm so proud of the young women that they are and I'm so glad we can recognize them for all that they've done."
 
 

Antoniak, an outside hitter, has a 3.66 grade-point average as a business administration major. She is having her best season on the court and leads the Falcons in kills with 178. She has three kill-dig double doubles. Dawson is a defensive specialist and has a 3.68 GPA as a nutrition and dietetics major.

 

Ibale, a setter, carries a 3.78 GPA as a psychology major. Lambert also is a setter and is a life science major with a 3.54 GPA. She has reached a pair of career statistical milestones this fall, earning her 2,000th assist on Sept. 15 and sending her 100th service ace across the net last Saturday.
 
Another eight Falcons made the team for the second time.

 

That group includes middle blocker  outside hitter Allison Wilks. Of  the 15 Falcons on the All-Academic list, she has the highest GPA, with a 3.94 as a nursing major. She is enjoying a breakout season on the court. This past Monday, she was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after coming up with 17 blocks in two matches last week, including a career-high 10 against Central Washington.

 Joining Wilks as second-time selections are outside hitter opposite Sarah Brachvogel (3.89 / business administration), middle blocker Hannah Hair (3.86 / exercise science), outside hitter / opposite Sydney Perry (3.59 / physiology), opposite Maddie Pruden (3.86 / psychology), outside hitter Lindsay Rosenthal (3.85 / business administration), libero / defensive specialist Zoe Shuckhart (3.66 / sociology), and middle blocker Erin Smith (3.70 / nursing).
 
The team also includes a trio of first-timers from the Falcons.

Abigail Cunningham, a libero, is a business administration major with a 3.87 GPA. Outside hitter Sarah Day has a 3.34 GPA as a psychology major. Emily Tulino, a setter, sports a 3.87 as a business administration major.
 
It wasn't until 2019 when any GNAC school had a double-digit total of academic honorees for volleyball. That year, Northwest Nazarene did it with 11. In 2020, when an All-Academic squad was selected even though the season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, Saint Martin's had 13 and Central had 12. Last year, six schools had 10 or more players make it.
 
And this season, five schools are in double digits. Along with SPU's 15, Western Oregon has 13 on the team, Northwest Nazarene has 11, while Central and Saint Martin's have 10 each.
 
To earn All-Academic recognition, student-athletes must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20 or higher, be at least a sophomore, and must be in at least the second year with their team. Freshmen and first-year transfers are not eligible (unless they have transferred from another GNAC school at which they previously earned All-Academic recognition).
 
 
2022 GNAC ALL-ACADEMIC VOLLEYBALL
 

SEATTLE PACIFIC
Name	Academic Major	Year	GPA	Hometown
*+ Ashley Antoniak	Business Administration	Sr.	3.66	Litchfield Park, Ariz.
* Sarah Brachvogel	Business Administration	Jr.	3.89	Mukilteo, Wash.
Abigail Cunningham	Business Administration	So.	3.87	Tulsa, Okla.
*+ Paige Dawson	Nutrition & Dietetics	Sr.	3.68	Spokane, Wash.
Sarah Day	Psychology	Jr.	3.34	Monroe, Wash.
* Hannah Hair	Exercise Science	Jr.	3.86	Walla Walla, Wash.
*+ Austin Ibale	Psychology	Sr.	3.78	Renton, Wash.
*+ Lindsey Lambert	Life Science	Sr.	3.54	Beaverton, Ore.
* Sydney Perry	Physiology	Jr.	3.59	Cave Creek, Ariz.
* Maddie Pruden	Psychology	Jr.	3.86	Poulsbo, Wash.
* Lindsay Rosenthal	Business Administration	Jr.	3.85	Richland, Wash.
* Zoe Shuckhart	Sociology	Jr.	3.66	Univ. Place, Wash.
* Erin Smith	Nursing	Jr.	3.70	Carlsbad, Calif.
Emily Tulino	Business Administration	So.	3.90	Carlsbad, Calif.
* Allison Wilks	Nursing	Jr.	3.94	Bothell, Wash.

 * - 2021 All-Academic Selection 
+ - 2020-21 All-Academic Selection    
# - 2019 All-Academic Selection