AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – Capital University senior volleyball players Kara Guster and Jackie Helm were both named to the Ohio Athletic Conference All-Academic Team on Tuesday following voting conducted by the conference’s Senior Woman Administrators.
To be eligible for Academic All-OAC, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.25 cumulative gpa, be a starter or key reserve and be in at least her second year of participation in the sport.
Both Guster and Helm were honored for the third time in their respective careers with OAC All-Academic Team honors. Guster was listed on the OAC All-Academic Team in both 2006 and 2007 while Helm earned the same distinction in 2005 and 2007. Both players were also ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team selections this season and are in the running for Academic All-America honors, which will be announced on Nov. 24.
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.