Ferris State's Danielle Dowd Claims Academic All-America Volleyball Honors

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Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State University volleyball junior libero Danielle Dowd (Manhattan, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) has claimed 2014 Capital One Academic All-America honors for her performance both on the floor and in the classroom this campaign.

The 2014 Capital One Academic All-America Teams, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), where released to recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. Capital One has been the entitlement rights holder to CoSIDA's Academic All-America Teams program since 2011.

Dowd was one of six student-athletes to receive second-team academic all-america recognition for the 2014 season. Overall, a total of only 18 individuals were recognized from across the country with six on each of the three Academic All-America teams. Dowd was one of only three juniors honored among the 18 selections. Previously, Dowd advanced to the national ballot by being chosen to the Capital One Academic All-District IV First Team this season.

To be eligible for Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 20,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.

The Capital One Division II an III Academic All-America program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures, to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2014-15 DII and DIII Academic All-America teams program.

Earlier this season, Dowd was named to the all-tournament team at the seventh annual Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC)/Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Crossover Tournament held at the Great Lakes Center in Aurora, Ill.

This year, Dowd led the Bulldogs in her first season as the squad's libero with 437 digs on the year. She tallied 10 digs or more in 24 of FSU's 30 outings, including a personal career-high 31 digs earlier this year at rival Grand Valley State (Sept. 23). Overall, she averaged a squad-best 4.28 digs per set and added 33 assists and 21 service aces in 102 total sets while earning team Most Improved Player Award accolades.

The Bulldogs, who made the school's fourth-straight and 19th overall NCAA Tournament appearance, finished the 2014 campaign with a 24-6 overall record. FSU also won a share of the GLIAC Regular-Season Championship and claimed the school's second-ever GLIAC Tournament title by beating rival Grand Valley State in the tourney title match.

This year marked the 13th time in 19 seasons under head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm in which FSU has claimed at least 20 victories in a campaign. The Bulldogs have also made 17 consecutive GLIAC Tournament appearances in the stretch.