PENSACOLA, Fla. - Florida Southern College volleyball sophomore Courtney Charneco is the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2017 NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship, the NCAA announced on Wednesday.
Charneco, majoring in business, currently carries a 4.0 GPA. She was presented with the award during the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship banquet on Wednesday evening in Pensacola. Charneco is the first volleyball player in Florida Southern history to earn the prestigious award. For the first time in history, there was a three-way tie for the award, which is also shared by Karli Reichert and Alyssa Woodman of Rockhurst.
The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.
The Pembroke Pines, Florida native is the first Florida Southern athlete to win the Elite 90 award since Tyler Logan won in 2015 (Men's Basketball). She's the 18th overall winner from the Sunshine State Conference and first volleyball athlete to win the award since Berkley Whaley of the University of Tampa was honored in 2013. For a full list of Elite 90 award winners from the SSC,
click here.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, log on to
NCAA.com/elite-90.