GREENWOOD, Ind. – Northwestern volleyball student-athlete Zavyr Metzger has been selected as the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America Team Member of the Year for the NAIA, the organization’s office announced this morning.
Northwestern’s first three-time CSC Academic All-America selection, Metzger continues to add to her resume, garnering GPAC Co-Defender of the Year, First Team NAIA All-American, and First Team AVCA All-Region honors. The senior nursing major from Larchwood, Iowa broke her own single-season blocks record (251), led all college divisions in blocks per set (1.99), and closes her career second in total blocks (688).
Metzger is Northwestern volleyball’s third Academic All-American of the Year, joining Karlie Schut (2015) and Robin Pals (1990). She becomes the fourth total Academic All-American of the Year in all Northwestern sports, as women’s basketball’s Samantha Kleinsasser earned the honor in 2014.
“Zavyr has had an exceptional career both in the classroom and on the volleyball court. She played a key role in leading our program to two National Championship matches while also excelling in a demanding nursing major,” head coach Kyle Van Den Bosch said. “Being selected as the sole NAIA student-athlete for this award speaks volumes about the excellence she brings to everything she does. What I admire about Zavyr is her ability to prepare intentionally and perform with consistency and grace—whether it’s a nursing clinical, an exam, or a volleyball match.”
CSC honors one Academic All-America Team Member of the Year from each NCAA division and the NAIA. Along with Metzger’s recognition among NAIA athletes, she is joined by an elite group of student-athletes that includes Nebraska’s Bergen Reilly (NCAA DI), Concordia-St. Paul’s Makenna Nold (NCAA DII), and East Texas Baptist’s Graycee Mosley (NCAA DIII).
ABOUT THE ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA PROGRAM
Academic All-American is a title reserved for college student-athletes who perform at an elite level in their chosen sport and in the classroom. The all-time list of 42,000+ Academic All-Americans includes major sports stars and some of the world’s most accomplished individuals in medicine, business, science and the arts. Established in 1952 and selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC), Academic All-America is the longest running and premier award for athletic and academic success across championship college sports at all NCAA levels, the NAIA, two-year colleges and Canadian institutions.
