2018 Google Cloud Academic All-District® Volleyball Teams

DURHAM, N.C. — North Carolina Central University senior libero Erika Ianovale has been named to the 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-District® Volleyball Team, which recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
 
Ianovale is one of seven NCAA Division I honorees for District 3 that were selected out of a large group of nominees from all DI programs within the states of North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.
 
"Erika has been a great role model and leader for us, both on and off the court," said NCCU head coach Jody Brown. "Her maturity and commitment to her team and academics has really stood out and will be the backbone of her future success."
 
Ianovale boasts a perfect 4.0 grade point average (GPA) as a mass communication major at NCCU. She transferred in after earning an Associate of Arts degree from State College of Florida. The Dean's and President's List award winner is a member of Lambda Pi Eta, Public Relations Student Society of America and the social media committee of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Ianovale, who is concentrating on public relations and is working on a minor in Spanish, plans to work in the United States for a few years with a multinational or international corporation dealing with other countries and cultures.
 
Ianovale, who was born in Milan, Italy, but resides in Sao Paulo, Brazil, was named the NCCU Student-Athlete of the Month in September. She is one of two Lady Eagles to play in all 88 sets this season for NCCU.
 
At the end of the regular season, Ianovale ranks seventh in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) with 3.55 digs per set. She switched positions from outside hitter as a junior to libero in her final season. Ianovale immediately made an impact on defense and posted double-digit digs in 20 of 24 matches.
 
Ianovale supplied a season-high 25 digs in a 3-2 win over Jackson State University. Her 15 digs against Bethune-Cookman University helped the Lady Eagles upset the preseason favorites in the Southern Division in NCCU's league opener.
 
To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at their current institution. Nominated athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games and they are not eligible until they have completed one full calendar year at their current institution and has reached at least sophomore athletic eligibility.
 
Ianovale and other First-Team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the Google Cloud Academic All-America® ballot and the honorees will be announced in early December.