COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 13, 2021) - Seven members of the Colorado State University Pueblo volleyball team were named to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference academic squads for their efforts on the court and in the classroom. The ThunderWolves were led by junior Jazzy Espinoza (MB, Cheyenne, Wyo.), who was recognized as a member of the Academic All-RMAC First Team. 

Espinoza owns a 3.61 GPA in liberal studies. She was also an All-RMAC First Team selection this season. 

Named to the Academic All-RMAC Honor Roll were Kita Elsner (R-Fr., L/DS, Colorado Springs, Colo.), Grace Hern (Jr., S, Omaha, Neb.), Kasey Jahnke (So., OH, Glendale, Ariz.), Grace Jansen (So., S, South Jordan, Utah), Kyle Meltzer (Sr., DS, Fort Collins, Colo.), Payton Stack (Sr., OPP, Casper, Wyo.).

The Academic All-RMAC First Team members were voted on by the conference's sports information directors. To be eligible for consideration, a student-athlete must carry a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and must have been an active student at the institution for at least two consecutive semesters or three consecutive quarters.

The ThunderWolves went 11-4 overall and 9-2 in RMAC play during the spring season to earn the No. 3 seed in the RMAC Tournament. The last time the Pack were in the top three for the league tournament was 1997. 
 
In the final ranking before the RMAC Tournament, the Pack cracked the American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division II poll and were ranked No. 25. The top 25 ranking was the first since 1998. 

CSU Pueblo had three members of the Pack who gathered All-RMAC First Team honors, which was the first time the program had multiple first team members since 2015 and the first time in program history with three first team honorees. Joining Espinoza on the first team were Stack and Maddy Wisniewski (Sr., OH/RS, Highlands Ranch, Colo.). On the All-RMAC Honorable Mention team was Elaine Thibadeau (Jr., L, Monument, Colo.).

ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL

Kita Elsner, R-Fr., L/DS, Colorado Springs, Colo., 3.77, Social Work
Jazzy Espinoza, Jr., MB, Cheyenne, Wyo., 3.61, Liberal Studies
Grace Hern, Jr., S, Omaha, Neb., 3.50, Business Management
Kasey Jahnke, So., OH, Glendale, Ariz., 4.00, Health Sciences and World Language
Grace Jansen, So., S, South Jordan, Utah, 3.62, Undeclared
Kyle Meltzer, Sr., DS, Fort Collins, Colo., 3.42, Health Sciences
Payton Stack, Sr., OPP, Casper, Wyo., 3.65, Liberal Studies

ALL-RMAC BIOS
 
ESPINOZA
 
All-RMAC First Team …Academic All-RMAC First Team ... Played in all 49 sets … Led the team and ranked second in the RMAC in attack percentage at .423 and was second on the squad with 105 kills … Led the team with 29 service aces, while her 0.59 aces per set was good to lead the conference … Ranked second on the team with 54 blocks (46 block assists and 10 solo blocks) … Her 0.98 blocks per set was good for sixth in the conference … Led the team with 163 total points, a 3.33 points per set average that finished the season 10th in the league. 

-- PACK --