Photo by: Jeffrey Gamza/Pitt Athletics
Kamalani Akeo Named Candidate for Senior CLASS Award®
10/2/2018 10:00:00 AM | Volleyball, Panther Club
Setter Anchors No. 8 Pitt Volleyball Offense
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Senior setter Kamalani Akeo of the No. 8 University of Pittsburgh volleyball team (15-0, 4-0 ACC) has been named one of 30 candidates for the 2018 Senior CLASS Award®.
"Kama has been a huge part of building this program over the last four seasons," Pitt head coach Dan Fisher said. "She is a great setter and represents Pitt with class and humility. She is one of the hardest workers of anyone I have coached and excels at everything she does."
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
CHARACTER:
On the court, Akeo acts as one of the Panthers' captains. This is her second year as a captain, as she has become one of Pitt's top leaders. This comes naturally being a setter, as she is tasked with leading the offense on the court. The senior is a true example of a top student-athlete.
Off the court, the Cathy and John Pelusi Family Life Skills program was created at the University of Pittsburgh to help develop and prepare student-athletes for success while in college and for life after college. Akeo has been highly involved in the program. The Pitt Professional Etiquette Series is one of Pitt's top program features, which includes dining, professional dress, business networking and communication events.
COMMUNITY:
In addition to her busy academic and athletic schedule, Akeo spends time volunteering in and around the Pittsburgh community. She has been involved with Orange Arrow, a non-profit whose mission is to help student-athletes aim for success of the field, as well as Project Life and Friends of Jaclyn.
Project Life is a national movement to increase the potential pool of bone marrow and tissue donors by testing and registering college students with a simple cheek swab. Akeo volunteered at this event, which was hosted at the University of Pittsburgh.
FOJ is a non-profit who pairs children with college sports teams. The Pitt volleyball team was paired with their sibling Lili last year, who Akeo visits with from time to time.
This past summer, Akeo was a part of a team visit to Cumberland Crossing, a nursing home. The team played games, sang and dance with the patients, including a Hula dance featuring Akeo, who is a native of Kapolei, Hawaii.
CLASSROOM:
Off the court, Akeo excels academically. A marketing and human resource management major, she boasts a 3.512 cumulative GPA. She has been named to the Dean's List three times and recorded a 3.800 in her last semester.
COMPETITION:
A four-year starter for Pitt, Akeo has been one of the Panthers top setters in program history. She has led Pitt to unprecedented success, including the program's first ACC Championship in 2017, as well as back-to-back appearances in NCAA Tournament.
Akeo, the 2016 ACC Setter of the Year, is also a two-time AVCA All-East Coast Region First Team honoree (2016, 2017), an All-ACC First Team selection (2017) and All-ACC Second Team (2016) recipient.
During her four years at Pitt, Akeo has compiled 3,567 assists and 782 digs in 114 matches. She has also recorded 8.62 assists per set and 1.89 digs per set in those matches. Akeo currently ranks fourth in program history in assists, and is on pace to finish third by seasons end.
NEXT:
The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship in December.
The complete list of 30 candidates is as follows:
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"Kama has been a huge part of building this program over the last four seasons," Pitt head coach Dan Fisher said. "She is a great setter and represents Pitt with class and humility. She is one of the hardest workers of anyone I have coached and excels at everything she does."
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
CHARACTER:
On the court, Akeo acts as one of the Panthers' captains. This is her second year as a captain, as she has become one of Pitt's top leaders. This comes naturally being a setter, as she is tasked with leading the offense on the court. The senior is a true example of a top student-athlete.
Off the court, the Cathy and John Pelusi Family Life Skills program was created at the University of Pittsburgh to help develop and prepare student-athletes for success while in college and for life after college. Akeo has been highly involved in the program. The Pitt Professional Etiquette Series is one of Pitt's top program features, which includes dining, professional dress, business networking and communication events.
COMMUNITY:
In addition to her busy academic and athletic schedule, Akeo spends time volunteering in and around the Pittsburgh community. She has been involved with Orange Arrow, a non-profit whose mission is to help student-athletes aim for success of the field, as well as Project Life and Friends of Jaclyn.
Project Life is a national movement to increase the potential pool of bone marrow and tissue donors by testing and registering college students with a simple cheek swab. Akeo volunteered at this event, which was hosted at the University of Pittsburgh.
FOJ is a non-profit who pairs children with college sports teams. The Pitt volleyball team was paired with their sibling Lili last year, who Akeo visits with from time to time.
This past summer, Akeo was a part of a team visit to Cumberland Crossing, a nursing home. The team played games, sang and dance with the patients, including a Hula dance featuring Akeo, who is a native of Kapolei, Hawaii.
CLASSROOM:
Off the court, Akeo excels academically. A marketing and human resource management major, she boasts a 3.512 cumulative GPA. She has been named to the Dean's List three times and recorded a 3.800 in her last semester.
COMPETITION:
A four-year starter for Pitt, Akeo has been one of the Panthers top setters in program history. She has led Pitt to unprecedented success, including the program's first ACC Championship in 2017, as well as back-to-back appearances in NCAA Tournament.
Akeo, the 2016 ACC Setter of the Year, is also a two-time AVCA All-East Coast Region First Team honoree (2016, 2017), an All-ACC First Team selection (2017) and All-ACC Second Team (2016) recipient.
During her four years at Pitt, Akeo has compiled 3,567 assists and 782 digs in 114 matches. She has also recorded 8.62 assists per set and 1.89 digs per set in those matches. Akeo currently ranks fourth in program history in assists, and is on pace to finish third by seasons end.
NEXT:
The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship in December.
The complete list of 30 candidates is as follows:
| Kamalani Akeo, Pittsburgh | Courtney Pence, Illinois State |
| Tami Alade, Stanford | Jordan Poulter, Illinois |
| Rachel Anderson, Western Kentucky | Colleen Reilly, Wofford |
| Ali Bastianelli, Illinois | Michela Rucli, Hofstra |
| Lauren Bruns, Dayton | Jess Schaben, Iowa State |
| Santita Ebangwese, Syracuse | Samantha Seliger-Swenson, Minnesota |
| Gabrielle Eyl, Northeastern | Carly Skjodt, Michigan |
| Mikaela Foecke, Nebraska | Alexa Smith, Colorado |
| Cara Guthrie, UNC Asheville | Kirstyn Sperry, Bryant |
| Erica Haslag, Bradley | Haley Templeton, Miami |
| Taryn Kloth, Creighton | Abby Thelen, Seton Hall |
| Haley Libs, Northern Kentucky | Jaila Tolbert, Virginia Tech |
| AJ Lux, East Tennessee State | Erica Treiber, Tennessee |
| Patricia Mattingly, Navy | Jaali Winters, Creighton |
| Alyssa Munlyn, Missouri | Karley York, North Texas |
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