By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University senior volleyball All-American Faith Rottinghaus was the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2021 NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship.
Rottinghaus, majoring in kinesiology, currently carries a perfect 4.0 grade point average and becomes the first Washburn student-athlete to win the prestigious award. Rottinghaus, a Shawnee Heights graduate, was presented with the award prior toWashburn's win in Thursday's national quarterfinal match in Tampa, Fla.
"I think it means a lot,'' Rottinghaus said. "I'm very proud of it just because I work really hard in the classroom and on the court.
"I would stress to everybody, don't let your lives become too much of a distraction and really focus on what you want to have.''
Washburn volleyball All-American Faith Rottinghaus, a Shawnee Heights graduate, received a prestigious academic honor Thursday during the NCAA Volleyball Championships. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The libero from Berryton has had an incredible career that includes two CoSIDA Academic All-America awards, an AVCA All-America second team selection, a D2CCA All-America first team selection, three all-MIAA first team honors, and a five-time MIAA Academic Excellence award winner. She is also the program's all-time career leader in digs with 2,607.
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.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed. For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, log on to https://www.ncaa.com/elite-90.
