2011 RMAC All-Academic team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Four members of the Fort Lewis College volleyball team — defensive specialists Heather Bryant and Heather Chivers, libero Jenna Kinzer, and outside hitter Julie Oberriter — earned Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference All-Academic Honor Roll accolades, RMAC Assistant Commissioner Eric Danner announced today.

“I am very proud of the academic efforts made by our academic all-conference recipients,” said eighth-year FLC head coach Shelly Aaland — herself a two-time recipient of the honor in 1997 and '98. “They are exemplifying what we look for in our student-athletes and giving a very good example to our younger players.”

Bryant, a 5-foot-8 senior from Loveland High School in Loveland, Colo., maintains a 3.34 grade point average in General Biology. She ranks 28th in the RMAC in service aces (16, 0.23 per set) in 2011 after sharing the Skyhawk team lead with 25 a year ago. She also has 92 digs and 10 assists this season.

Chivers, a 5-foot-1 sophomore from Conifer High School in Conifer, Colo., carries a 3.73 GPA in Public Health. She previously received the D2 Athletic Directors Association/WeatherPORT Academic Achievement Award in 2010. Chivers has notched 17 digs, one service ace, and one assist this season.

Kinzer, a 5-foot-8 sophomore from Rampart High School in Colorado Springs, Colo., has a 3.37 GPA in the Exercise Science-Physiology option. As a true freshman in 2010, she received RMAC Defensive Player of the Week honors during her first weekend of collegiate competition. She currently ranks among RMAC leaders in digs (fifth, 4.52 per set) and services aces (eighth, 0.31 per set). Kinzer has also notched 34 assists and three kills in 2011.

During her freshman campaign, Kinzer recorded a team-high 509 digs (4.85 per set), which placed her fourth in the FLC record books for digs per set in a single season and fifth in total digs in a single season.

Oberriter, a 5-foot-10 sophomore from Summit High School in Dillon, Colo., carries a 3.61 GPA in the Exercise Science-Athletic Training option and is also a student athletic trainer at FLC. She has recorded 16 kills and 15 digs in 2011.

To qualify for Academic All-RMAC, student-athletes must have a GPA of 3.30 or better, be a starter or reserve, and completed two consecutive semesters or three quarters at their current institution. The student-athlete's cumulative GPA is what they had earned prior to volleyball season beginning. RMAC sports information directors selected first and second teams.

Fort Lewis (5-15 overall, 2-10 in the RMAC) returns to RMAC West action this coming weekend when it embarks on its final road trip of the season. The Skyhawks travel to Western State (5-15, 2-10) at 7 p.m. Friday before continuing on to Colorado State-Pueblo (10-10, 6-6) at 2 p.m. Saturday.

With just three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Skyhawk spikers are still very much in the hunt for the fourth and final playoff berth from the West Division. FLC trails New Mexico Highlands (8-13, 3-9) and Colorado Mesa (8-14, 3-9) by just one game in the standings.