Senior middle hitter Preecy Seever of Rockhurst University was named the volleyball nominee the Class of 2016 Division II Honda Athlete of the Year as announced by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) today.

She is now designated one of 11 finalists for the prestigious DII Honda Athlete of the Year honor. This will be voted on at the end of the academic year by national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of THE CWSA program, now in its 40th year.

“This is an incredible honor,” stated Seever. “The key to my season was staying healthy and working hard in practice. The team bonded well together. We almost reached every goal we had at the beginning of the year. It was a great experience to play in the (NCAA) Elite Eight.”

The senior middle hitter from Olathe, Kansas, was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Player of the Year for Division II and received AVCA first-team All-American honors for the second consecutive season. She led the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) in hitting percentage (.370) and blocks (1.46/set).

She was a first-team All-GLVC and first-team CCA All-Region honoree. The criminal justice major ranked fourth nationally in blocks and 11th nationally in hitting percentage.

“Obviously she is real athletic,” head coach Tracy Rietzke said. “She is quick off her feet and an excellent jumper, which makes her a huge weapon at the net. We were an athletic team and she added to that.”

All sports nominees from DII and DIII become a finalist for the prestigious 2016 Honda Collegiate Athlete of the Year in their respective divisions, presented on a live telecast on June 27, 2016, in the Founders’ Room at the Galen Center on the campus of the University of Southern California in downtown Los, Angeles.

The sports nominees are recognized in 11 DII and DIII NCAA-sanctioned sports; cross country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball, and track & field.

The CWSA, celebrating its 40^th year, has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.  Since commencing its sponsorship thirty years ago in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.0 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions.