AUSTIN, Texas --- Three Tusculum University student-athletes have been named to the 2024 NCAA Division II Men's At-Large Academic All-District® 3 first team as selected by the College Sports Communicators.
Earning Academic All-District Men's At-Large honors for the Pioneers are volleyball players Jaden Bramhall and Colby Landry and golfer Blake Williams.
The 2024 Academic All-District® Men's At-Large Team recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances for the following NCAA sports: fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.
District 3 is comprised of colleges and universities representing the South Atlantic Conference, Peach Belt Conference and Conference Carolinas. To be eligible, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 (undergraduate and graduate) or higher and must be at least a sophomore. Nominees must compete in 90 percent of the institution's games played or start in at least 66 percent of the institution's contests.
Bramhall, a sophomore middle blocker from Tucson, Arizona, has a 3.60 GPA and is majoring in biology. He is a member of the Tusculum Dean's List, Charles Oliver Gray Honors List and the TU Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
He started in 29 of Tusculum's 31 matches which included 101 sets played. He posted a .248 hitting percentage where he totals 93 kills (0.92 kps), 19 assists (0.19 aps) and 13 service aces (0.13 saps). Defensively, he accounted for 41 digs (0.41 dps) and 55 blocks (0.54 bps).
Landry, an outside hitter from Belle Rose, Louisiana, graduated from Tusculum with cum laude distinction. He finished with a 3.52 GPA and majored in sports science and sport management. He is a member of the Dean's List, Athletic Director's Honor Roll and the Charles Oliver Gray Honors List.
Landry finished second on the team in kills averaging 2.88 per set. He recorded double-figure kills on 16 occasions including seven of his last eight outings. He finished with 299 kills, 17 assists and a team-best 18 service aces. He was tied for second on the club with 134 digs and posted 15 blocks.
In 2023, he was named to the All-Independent Volleyball Association second team as he finished his Tusculum career with a program record 883 kills, 61 assists, 73 service aces (2nd in TU history), 429 digs (2nd in TU history) and 54 blocks.
Williams, a senior from Lone Tree, Colorado, recorded a 3.62 GPA as a sport management major. He is a member of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll, Dean's List, Charles Oliver Gray Honors List and the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll. He was also the recipient of the Division II Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award and was a 2023 Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) All-America Scholar.
Williams finished third on the roster with his 73.08 scoring average which is the 11th lowest in a TU single-season. He was tied for the team-lead with his five top-20 finishes including three times in the top-10 and two fifth-place performances including the Walters State Fall Classic and the Ralph Hargett Memorial.
Williams wraps up his career with a 73.86 stroke average which is fifth in the TU record book. In his 17 career events, he has totaled seven top-20 finishes including four times in the top-10.
The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes men's at-large honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in July 17.
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2023-2024 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs.
