Baker Named To PBC All-Academic Team

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Sophomore Marissa Baker was named to the 2011 Peach Belt Conference volleyball's all-academic team released by the league office on Friday morning. Baker is among 14 given all-academic status for the current volleyball season for her efforts in the classroom and on the court.

The native of Naples, Fla., held the third-highest grade point average among the individuals honored with a cumulative 3.93 GPA. Baker is still undecided in her course of study at UNCP but has proven to be a defensive resource for the Lady Braves. As libero, she led the Black and Gold with a career-high 618 digs, while averaging 5.62 digs per set. She played in 110 sets, and was first in conference action with 319 digs and averaged 3.25 digs per set. 

She was fourth on the team with 19 service aces and totaled a .969 serving percentage, while she collected 24 assists and six kills. Overall, she was second in the conference in digs, first in digs per set and ranked 16th in the nations in digs. 

Baker helped the team rank 52nd in digs per set out of 270 teams with an average 16.76 digs per set. She was named PBC Specialist of the Week on September 29 for spearheading the UNCP defense with an eye-popping 8.33 digs per set in two conference matches and to All-Tournament team at the conclusion of the PBC Tournament.

UNCP finished the regular season with the best finish in the PBC in 16 years since the team was under coach Dawn Langley in 1994, and third best finish since joining the PBC in 1992.

Armstrong Atlantic and USC Aiken supplied four athletes each grace the list while Francis Marion had three. UNCP, Montevallo and Flagler added one apiece.

The team is part of a season-long program recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of PBC student-athletes in the classroom as well as on the court. To be eligible for the All-Academic team, a student-athlete must 1) participate in at least half of his/her team's events and be either a starter or significant contributor; 2) achieved a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and 3) completed at least one full academic year at his or her current institution. The Peach Belt Conference Sports Information Directors oversee and select the teams.

2011 Volleyball All-Academic Team

Honorable Mention: Michelle Carle, Montevallo; Liz Crewry, FMU; Endea Ellison, USCA; Jessica Guidry, Montevallo; Emily Maassen, USCA; Megan Mooney, FMU; Paige Perreault, FMU.