Women's Volleyball 9.3.15 Herb Brooks

Reesor Named Woman Of The Year Top 30 Honoree

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Recent Samford University graduate and standout volleyball player Michaela Reesor was named as an NCAA Woman of the Year Top 30 Honoree on Thursday, Sept. 3^rd, by the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee.

Reesor was selected for the honor out of a total of 480 nominees and now represents only one of ten women from the NCAA Division I level. In late September, the selection committee will name nine finalists – three women from each division.

"It's a huge honor and I am very grateful to be in the company of so many other great women," Reesor said. "My hope is that people will see God's sovereignty revealed through me from this experience."

The Caledon, Ontario, Canada native has garnered multiple awards during her career at Samford and even more after graduating in May 2015 with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. Reesor is the epitome of what a student-athlete stands for as she graduated with a 3.89 GPA and received the Southern Conference's Dorothy Hicks Graduate Scholarship, which was given to her for hard work on the court, in the classroom and out in the community.

"Michaela has made a major impact on not only our volleyball program, but our university," said Director of Athletics Martin Newton. "Her accolades on the court are well documented, but her leadership, academic achievements as well as her involvement in the community have made her the standard bearer for all Samford student-athletes.

"I'm so proud that the NCAA has recognized what those of us at Samford and the Southern Conference already know…She is an amazing woman and worthy of this esteemed honor."

On the court Reesor was a team captain who excelled at motivating and leading the squad to two Southern Conference Tournament Championships, which resulted in the only two NCAA Tournament berths in the program's history, and a pair SoCon North Division Regular Season Championships.

"I cannot say enough about Michaela and what she has meant to me and this program through the years." Head Coach Derek Schroeder said. "Her focus, determination and faith used in all aspects of her life have put her in the position she is in today and I couldn't be more proud to have been a part of that.

"So many student-athletes these days want to take whatever they can out of their college experience. Michaela went into hers with the view of how can I serve and contribute…all for the betterment of those around her. We are all better people because Michaela was in our lives," Schroeder added.

Reesor also accumulated multiple accolades during her playing career at Samford; most recently being named the 2015 SoCon Female Athlete of the Year. The talented outside hitter ended her career as Samford's all-time career leader in kills (1,639) and attacks (4,107) while she also led the SoCon her senior season in kills (3.77 k/p/s) and points (4.20 p/p/s).

In 2013, she was tabbed as the league's Player of the Year and was voted as an All-SoCon First Team selection. At the end of her career she garnered three All-SoCon First Team selections and was placed on the SoCon All-Tournament Team just as many times from 2012-2014.

Reesor will continue her academic studies at UAB where she will pursue a Master's Degree in Business Administration and will also compete on the Blazers' beach volleyball team as part of a fifth year option.

The 2015 Woman of the Year, selected by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics, will be announced Oct. 18 at a ceremony in Indianapolis. Reesor will be accompanied to the ceremony by her parents, David and Teresa, Senior Associate AD Michelle Durban and Samford Head Coach Derek Schroeder.

NCAA Woman of the Year
Full List Of Top 30 Honorees

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Players Mentioned

#4 Michaela Reesor: OH; 6' 0"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#4 Michaela Reesor
: 6' 0"; Senior
: OH

Samford University Athletics

Players Mentioned

#4 Michaela Reesor

Players Mentioned

#4 Michaela Reesor