ROCK HILL, S.C. - Tusculum College junior Ashley Sarmiento has been named the 2012 South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Scholar Athlete of the Year, announced league officials Wednesday morning.
The SAC Scholar Athlete Award recognizes achievement on the court, in the classroom, community service and as a campus leader.
Sarmiento becomes the third student-athlete in program history to earn this honor, joining Sierra Harlacher (2001) and Alexis Rowles (2007). The award, which is presented to one student-athlete in each of the conference's 14 championship sports, is selected by the league's Faculty Athletic Representatives.
Sarmiento has been a key in leading Tusculum to a 20-6 regular-season record, including a 14-4 conference mark in finishing second in the league and will be the No. 2 seed at this week's Food Lion SAC Volleyball Championship.
The Dayton, Ohio native led the SAC in assists per set, averaging 9.98 per set, including 13.22 apg in her last three matches, earning her SAC Specialist of the Week honors.
She was the SAC and AVCA Southeast Region Freshman of the Year in 2010 and is a two-year team captain.
A mathematics and math education major, Sarmiento currently holds a 3.91 cumulative grade point average. She was a Capital One Academic All-America® Second Team honoree in 2011, and is a nominee for Academic All-America consideration this season. She has been a multi-year selection to the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll, Dean's List, President's List and the Charles Oliver Gray Honors List.
On campus, Sarmiento has spearheaded the growth of Pioneer Nation, TC's athletic fan club. She is the president of the Pioneer Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and took part in last summer's SAC Leadership Conference.
Sarmiento has volunteered with programs that include Tusculum Mentor for Kids, Nettie Day of Service, Ride for Life and Greeneville Humane Society. She is also involved with youth ministry at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Greeneville.
"Ashley sets a high bar as a role model, as she is known for her commitment to giving 100-percent both on and off the court," said Tusculum Dean of Students David McMahan. "She pursues all of these endeavors with seeming equal intensity and is a wonderful example of a student-athlete who is getting the most from her educational opportunity."
Added TC men's basketball coach Michael Jones, who has worked with Sarmiento on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Pioneer Nation: "Her superior character and integrity while pursuing her goals both in the classroom and on the court is inspiring."
Tusculum will face seventh-seed Mars Hill in a SAC Tournament quarterfinal match at 5 p.m. at Boshamer Gymnasium on the campus of Brevard College.
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