COLUMBUS, Ohio – Capital University seniors Kara Guster and Jackie Helm were each named to the ESPN The Magazine Volleyball Academic All-District IV First Team on Thursday. The duo will now advance to the national ballot and are eligible for Academic All-America honors, which will be announced on Nov. 24.
ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District teams are voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) within their respective region. Region IV consists of member schools in the states of Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. In order to be eligible for nomination, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore and hold a 3.30 cumulative grade point average.
Guster (Orrville, Ohio/Orrville HS) holds a 3.98 cumulative GPA as an exercise science major and led the Crusaders with 5.07 assists per set, which ranked ninth in the OAC, while adding 2.09 digs per set as a setter. She led the Crusaders to the third most kills in the Ohio Athletic Conference this season and was part of a setter tandem that ranked second in the OAC in assists.
Helm (Lancaster, Ohio/Fisher Catholic HS) holds a 3.90 cumulative GPA as an integrated science education major. The outside hitter is Capital’s all-time leader in digs with 2,023 while recording 134 career service aces to rank sixth all-time in Crusader history. Helm led CU with 42 service aces this season while ranking second on the roster with 2.26 kps and 3.55 dps.
Capital finished with its eighth consecutive 20-win season in 2008 after posting a 24-9 overall record with all nine of their losses coming to regionally-ranked opponents. CU placed fifth in the OAC standings in 2008 to earn their 13th-straight appearance to the OAC Tournament and 14th overall under the direction of 15-year Head Coach Pam Briggs.