Rochester volleyball senior middle blocker Sonia McGaffigan and sophomore setter Alexia Nelms earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® Honors, as announced by CSC on Tuesday.
 
The 2022 CSC Academic All-District® Women's Volleyball Teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average at his or her current institution.
 
McGaffigan earned both Honorable Mention All-University Athletic Association (UAA) and American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region honors after leading the Yellowjackets and finishing top five in the conference in both kills and points. The Fairbanks, AK native started all 27 matches and appeared in all 99 sets for UR, tallying a team-high 326 kills and 60.0 total blocks, 65 digs, 20 service aces and five assists. A three-time UAA All-Academic selection and a member of the Dean's List, McGaffigan tallied double-digit kills 18 times, including three 20-plus kill efforts, and ranked four in the UAA in kills, kills per set, points and points preset.
 
A physics & astronomy and math double major, off the court, McGaffigan is the President of the Society of Women in Astrophysics and a member of the Society of Physics Students Honor Society. The senior has done research with Professors Alice Quillen and Pierre Gourdain, publishing three papers with Professor Quillen and helping Professor Gourdain with student outreach. In addition, McGaffigan has volunteered with community gardens throughout her time at UR.
 
Nelms also started and appeared in every set for the Yellowjackets this season, tallying 832 assists (8.40 per set), 178 digs, 40 kills, 30 service aces and 15.0 blocks. The sophomore ranked fourth in the UAA in assists and assists per set and earned UAA All-Academic honors for her efforts in the classroom.
 
A psychology major, Nelms earned both the Black Scholars Scholarship and the Joseph C. Wilson Leader of Change Scholarship and has been involved with multiple community service events through UR's Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.
 
The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes women's volleyball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.