Talamazzi, Tolbert named to All-ACC Academic Volleyball Team

The pair earn the award for the first time in their careers

January 31, 2018

ACC Release

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Freshman Ester Talamazzi and junior Jaila Tolbert were named to the All-ACC Academic Volleyball Team, following their work in the classroom and on the court at Virginia Tech, as announced by the league office Wednesday morning.

The academic award is a first for both Hokies. Last season, Tech’s Lindsey Owens and Rhegan Mitchell earned the selection.

Minimum academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one’s academic career for undergraduate students. Athletic achievements during the most recent season are also considered in selecting the All-ACC Academic Team.

Talamazzi, a business major, turned in a solid freshman campaign, racking up 290 kills and 229 digs. The Italy native sits eighth all-time in the record book for the most kills by a freshman in their first season at Tech. Talamazzi earned ACC Freshman of the Week on Sept. 4, following her weekend at the A-State Invitational when she produced 38 kills, 28 digs and four blocks at the outside hitter position.

After posting career-best numbers this past fall, Tolbert was awarded second-team All-ACC, as well as Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) All-State. The right-side hitter recorded 20 matches when she hit north of .300 and owned a team-high 318 kills. Tolbert, an international business major, is the lone representative from the ACC on the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

The 2017 All-ACC Academic Volleyball Team has 37 honorees, with 13 different institutions represented. Louisville led the league with six selections, followed by five for Notre Dame. Duke, Miami, North Carolina, Pitt and Syracuse each had three honorees, while Florida State, Georgia Tech, NC State, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest had two, and Virginia had one student-athlete selected.

The ACC Honor Roll, which recognizes all conference student-athletes with a grade point average of 3.0 for the current academic year, will be released in July.

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