University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt’s Ndee Named Finalist for 2020-21 Senior CLASS Award
3/24/2021 3:22:00 PM | Volleyball
Right Side Hitter Selected as One of 10 Finalists Nationwide
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Senior right side hitter Chinaza Ndee of the No. 19 Pitt volleyball team (11-4, 10-4 ACC) has been selected as one of 10 finalists for the 2020-21 Senior CLASS Award.
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.
The finalists were chosen by a selection committee from the list of 30 candidates announced earlier in the season.
NEXT:
Nationwide fan voting begins immediately, and fans are encouraged to vote on the Senior CLASS Award website through April 14. Fan votes will then be combined with media and Division I head coaches' votes to determine the winner. The Senior CLASS Award recipient will be announced during the 2020-21 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship in April.
2020-21 SENIOR CLASS AWARD VOLLEYBALL FINALISTS
Camille Conner, Texas A&M
Gabby Curry, Kentucky
Kylie Deberg, Missouri
Nadia Dieudonne, Western Kentucky
Kenzie Koerber, Utah
Madison Lilley, Kentucky
Chinaza Ndee, Pittsburgh
Regan Pittman, Minnesota
Yossiana Pressley, Baylor
Stephanie Samedy, Minnesota
CLASSROOM
Since her arrival at the University of Pittsburgh in 2017, Ndee has committed herself to her dream of attending medical school following her undergraduate career. While maintaining a 3.6 cumulative grade point average as a double major in natural sciences and psychology, Ndee also pursued a certificate in conceptual foundations of medicine. Over the last four years, she has earned two selections to the All-ACC Volleyball Academic Team (2017, 2019) and is a three-time member of the ACC Honor Roll (2018, 2019, 2020). With Ndee on the squad, Pitt has earned three consecutive Team Academic Awards from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) – the longest streak in program history (2018-20).
On top of her commitments to her studies and training, Ndee furthered her ambitions by working in her chosen field. She assists with research for the Pitt Parents and Children Laboratory, working on projects such as the Smart Beginnings Study, Video Interaction Project and Early Steps Multisite Study. Ndee has also pursued shadowing opportunities, working with UPMC Sports Medicine's Dr. Freddie Fu, M.D., and Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, M.D. of Texas Children's Pediatrics – Piney Point.
CHARACTER
A consistent starter since her freshman year, Ndee was named a captain for her senior season in 2020. Amid one of the most challenging times ever for intercollegiate sports, Ndee helped to unite her team despite being separated across different states, countries and time zones for the better part of 2020. Before the Panthers were able to return to campus, Ndee and co-captain Kayla Lund organized weekly workouts and meetings over Zoom to help the Panthers stay connected while apart during the spring and summer months.
In addition to the trying times of COVID-19, the world suffered multiple injustices with the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. In step with the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, many student-athletes chose to use their platforms to help bring awareness to the fight for social justice. In multiple interviews, Ndee publicly discussed her personal experiences with racism and inequality. She also led internal discussions with her teammates about antiracism and how we can all do better in the fight for equality.
Despite being unable to vote in the American election (born in Nigeria), Ndee got involved in voting awareness campaigns, especially Pitt's initiative, Voting Matters.
COMMUNITY
Ndee's ambition to help others is highlighted by her commitment to community service. During the period of lockdown from March to September 2020, Ndee volunteered as a Care and Connection Caller, aiding Pittsburgh's Hill District Consensus Group and Neighborhood Resilience Project. She reached out to Pittsburgh's underprivileged residents to inform them of resources for food, medication and finances while checking on their health and general wellness. Additionally, she worked with RentHelpPGH and assisted Pittsburgh residents in completing their CARES Rent Relief Program application so they would be able to receive financial assistance and pay their rent.
Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, Ndee volunteered at the Ben Taub Hospital in her hometown of Houston, Texas. She gained experience in multiple areas, including in the Emergency Center, Nursing Unit, GI Lab and Post-Anesthesia Care units. She coordinated with hospital staff to ensure bedside tables and emergency operating rooms were continuously stocked with basic medical supplies. More of Ndee's duties included transporting patients from post operation rooms to other hospital departments or patient discharge areas, as well as responding to phone calls at the Nursing Unit.
COMPETITION
As part of one of Pitt's top recruiting classes in history, Ndee made an immediate impact on the Panthers' rise in national prominence over the last four years. She has played in all but five frames during her career, totaling 368 set appearances for Pitt. Since Ndee's arrival in Oakland, Pitt has won three consecutive ACC Championships (2017, 2018, 2019), with the Panthers clinching bids to the NCAA Tournament each year. During her junior season in 2019, the Panthers reached a program pinnacle with a No. 6 seed selection for the tournament. That same year she earned All-America Honorable Mention honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association, in addition to selections to the East Coast All-Region Team and the All-ACC First Team. She was second on the team with 2.85 on .296 hitting and 0.98 blocks per set.
Entering the 2020 season, Ndee ranked in Pitt's all-time top 10 for block assists (sixth, 299) and total blocks (10th, 310). Her consistency on the right side as both a blocker and attacker are key for the Panthers, however, her flexibility makes her truly dangerous on the court. She has proven to be competitive in multiple positions, playing as a middle during her freshman year, when she was named to the All-ACC Freshman Team, in addition to being named ACC Freshman of the week twice. Her name will be featured in the Panthers' record book long after her career ends at Pitt.
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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.
The finalists were chosen by a selection committee from the list of 30 candidates announced earlier in the season.
NEXT:
Nationwide fan voting begins immediately, and fans are encouraged to vote on the Senior CLASS Award website through April 14. Fan votes will then be combined with media and Division I head coaches' votes to determine the winner. The Senior CLASS Award recipient will be announced during the 2020-21 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship in April.
2020-21 SENIOR CLASS AWARD VOLLEYBALL FINALISTS
Camille Conner, Texas A&M
Gabby Curry, Kentucky
Kylie Deberg, Missouri
Nadia Dieudonne, Western Kentucky
Kenzie Koerber, Utah
Madison Lilley, Kentucky
Chinaza Ndee, Pittsburgh
Regan Pittman, Minnesota
Yossiana Pressley, Baylor
Stephanie Samedy, Minnesota
CLASSROOM
Since her arrival at the University of Pittsburgh in 2017, Ndee has committed herself to her dream of attending medical school following her undergraduate career. While maintaining a 3.6 cumulative grade point average as a double major in natural sciences and psychology, Ndee also pursued a certificate in conceptual foundations of medicine. Over the last four years, she has earned two selections to the All-ACC Volleyball Academic Team (2017, 2019) and is a three-time member of the ACC Honor Roll (2018, 2019, 2020). With Ndee on the squad, Pitt has earned three consecutive Team Academic Awards from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) – the longest streak in program history (2018-20).
On top of her commitments to her studies and training, Ndee furthered her ambitions by working in her chosen field. She assists with research for the Pitt Parents and Children Laboratory, working on projects such as the Smart Beginnings Study, Video Interaction Project and Early Steps Multisite Study. Ndee has also pursued shadowing opportunities, working with UPMC Sports Medicine's Dr. Freddie Fu, M.D., and Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, M.D. of Texas Children's Pediatrics – Piney Point.
CHARACTER
A consistent starter since her freshman year, Ndee was named a captain for her senior season in 2020. Amid one of the most challenging times ever for intercollegiate sports, Ndee helped to unite her team despite being separated across different states, countries and time zones for the better part of 2020. Before the Panthers were able to return to campus, Ndee and co-captain Kayla Lund organized weekly workouts and meetings over Zoom to help the Panthers stay connected while apart during the spring and summer months.
In addition to the trying times of COVID-19, the world suffered multiple injustices with the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. In step with the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, many student-athletes chose to use their platforms to help bring awareness to the fight for social justice. In multiple interviews, Ndee publicly discussed her personal experiences with racism and inequality. She also led internal discussions with her teammates about antiracism and how we can all do better in the fight for equality.
Despite being unable to vote in the American election (born in Nigeria), Ndee got involved in voting awareness campaigns, especially Pitt's initiative, Voting Matters.
COMMUNITY
Ndee's ambition to help others is highlighted by her commitment to community service. During the period of lockdown from March to September 2020, Ndee volunteered as a Care and Connection Caller, aiding Pittsburgh's Hill District Consensus Group and Neighborhood Resilience Project. She reached out to Pittsburgh's underprivileged residents to inform them of resources for food, medication and finances while checking on their health and general wellness. Additionally, she worked with RentHelpPGH and assisted Pittsburgh residents in completing their CARES Rent Relief Program application so they would be able to receive financial assistance and pay their rent.
Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, Ndee volunteered at the Ben Taub Hospital in her hometown of Houston, Texas. She gained experience in multiple areas, including in the Emergency Center, Nursing Unit, GI Lab and Post-Anesthesia Care units. She coordinated with hospital staff to ensure bedside tables and emergency operating rooms were continuously stocked with basic medical supplies. More of Ndee's duties included transporting patients from post operation rooms to other hospital departments or patient discharge areas, as well as responding to phone calls at the Nursing Unit.
COMPETITION
As part of one of Pitt's top recruiting classes in history, Ndee made an immediate impact on the Panthers' rise in national prominence over the last four years. She has played in all but five frames during her career, totaling 368 set appearances for Pitt. Since Ndee's arrival in Oakland, Pitt has won three consecutive ACC Championships (2017, 2018, 2019), with the Panthers clinching bids to the NCAA Tournament each year. During her junior season in 2019, the Panthers reached a program pinnacle with a No. 6 seed selection for the tournament. That same year she earned All-America Honorable Mention honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association, in addition to selections to the East Coast All-Region Team and the All-ACC First Team. She was second on the team with 2.85 on .296 hitting and 0.98 blocks per set.
Entering the 2020 season, Ndee ranked in Pitt's all-time top 10 for block assists (sixth, 299) and total blocks (10th, 310). Her consistency on the right side as both a blocker and attacker are key for the Panthers, however, her flexibility makes her truly dangerous on the court. She has proven to be competitive in multiple positions, playing as a middle during her freshman year, when she was named to the All-ACC Freshman Team, in addition to being named ACC Freshman of the week twice. Her name will be featured in the Panthers' record book long after her career ends at Pitt.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
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