COLLEGE SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS RELEASE | CSC ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT 2024

BOSTON – Suffolk volleyball saw four student-athletes garner College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors in seniors Jayla Martinez and Morgan Kelsey, junior Chloe Clement and sophomore Sami Shore, the national organization announced Tuesday. 

Presented by College Sports Communicators (CSC), formerly known as College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) to the most accomplished student-athletes for combined academic and athletic achievements each year since 1952, this is the longest-running and most prestigious academic and athletic award for student-athletes to receive.  

All nominees must have a GPA of at least a 3.50 (on a 4.0 scale), be a starter or important reserve, and have competed in at least 90 percent of a team's competition. 

Martinez and Kelsey both picked up their second nods in as many years to become the first Rams in the volleyball program's history to have multiple CSC All-District nods on their resumes, while Clement and Shore are first-time recipients. 

With the addition of this year's four selections, Suffolk volleyball now has 11 Academic All-District nods in its records books, all of which have come in the last five years under Scott Blanchard's guidance. The four acknowledgements in one season are the most handed out per program by CSC and it is the second time in the Rams' record books the squad achieved the feat, first since 2022. 

The Rams were joined by Conference of New England (CNE) institutions Endicott (3), Gordon (3), Hartford (4), Nichols (2), Roger Williams (4) Wentworth (2) and Western New England (2) on the list that featured 977 Division III Women's Volleyball student-athletes from 314 different programs. The blue-and-gold is one of just two CNE programs to earn the maximum four honorees alongside Hawks of both Hartford and Roger Williams.  

Martinez, who is studying law and public policy with a 3.796 GPA, set up the Rams' 11.58 kills per set offense with 5.82 assists per set. 

Kelsey, who is working towards her degree in interior design, not only was recognized for her academic achievements thanks to a 3.685 GPA, but grabbed a spot on the All-CNE Third-Team for being the main ingredient to Suffolk's backline defense with 4.13 digs per set. 

A biology major, Clement holds a 3.980 grade point average and was previously recognized as the inaugural Elite 20 recipient for holding the highest GPA of student-athletes, who competed in the 2024 CNE Women's Volleyball Tournament. On the hardwood, she had a standout season with 1.89 kills per set, good for second on the squad. 

Shore became the first-ever Ram to scoop up an Academic All-District accolade as a sophomore. The laurels come on a season in which she supplied 2.43 kills per set to the Rams attack and the 0.71 blocks per set to pace the team at the net all while maintain a 3.971 GPA as an accounting major. She was also recognized for her athletic achievements with a spot on the All-CNE First-Team.