GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum College student-athlete Ashley Sarmiento has been named to the 2011 Capital One NCAA Division II Academic All-District 3 First Team.

Sarmiento, a 5-11 sophomore setter from Dayton, Ohio, has a perfect 4.00 cumulative grade point average, while majoring in Mathematics and Math Education (K-12). Sarmiento advances to the Academic All-America® ballot, which will be announced later this month.

On the volleyball court, she leads the Pioneers with her 10.51 assists per set average, which is second in the South Atlantic Conference and 33rd in the nation. The 2010 SAC & AVCA Southeast Region Freshman of the Year is averaging 2.58 digs and has an attack percentage of .208. For her career, the Centerville High School graduate is averaging 10.44 assists per set, which is the best in school history., while her 2,286 career assists are already the third most ever by a Pioneer.

Sarmiento is a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll, Tusculum Dean's List and Charles Oliver Gray Honors List. Last season, she was the recipient of the Tusculum Freshman of the Year Academic Award and is a Tusculum academic scholarship recipient.

Sarmiento is also very active in the community where she is serving her first term as president of the Pioneer Student Athlete Advisory Council. Her community service activities include: "Tusculum Mentor for Kids", Ride for Life, Scholar Athlete Student Leader and volunteers with the Greeneville Humane Society.

Members of the Capital One Academic All-District 3 Team are selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), which includes all colleges and universities in the South Atlantic Conference, Conference Carolinas and Peach Belt Conference.

This is the first year of the expanded Academic All‐America® program as CoSIDA moves from recognizing a University Division (Division I) and a College Division (all non‐Division I) and doubles the number of scholar‐athletes honored. The teams include NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III participants, while the College Division team combines NAIA, Canadian and two‐year schools.

The Capital One Division II and III Academic All‐America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures, to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2011‐12 DII and DIII Academic All‐America® teams program.

- TC -

2011 Capital One NCAA II Academic All-District III First Team
Name, School
Anna Garrison, Montevallo
Grace Krauser, Wingate
Samantha Lukralle, USC Aiken
Maggie Malone, Wingate
Megan Mitchell, Lees-McRae
Danielle Parker, Francis Marion
Ashley Sarmiento, Tusculum
Liz Willis, Wingate