Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

2024 CSC Academic All-District Volleyball Teams

Dec. 17, 2024 - Doubling last year's mark, the North Central College women's volleyball team earned four College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections for their combined successes in the classroom and on the court. Abbi Barickman, and Maddi Barickman are multiple-time honorees while Bailey Houlihan and Lauren Benson earned her first CSC accolade.

To be eligible for this award, student-athletes must be at least sophomores with a 3.50 or higher grade point average. Transfers are also immediately eligible if they meet the previous criteria. Athletically, nominees must compete in 90 percent of games played or start in at least 66 percent of games played.

Houlihan, the Cardinals' second American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American in program history, led the team with 575 digs and 54 aces. The libero earned the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Defensive Player of the Year. Houlihan finished the season ranked 25th in total digs among Division III. The graduate transfer is pursuing her master's in occupational therapy at North Central.

Now a three-time CSC Academic All-District recipient, A. Barickman led the Cardinals with 356 kills over her 96 sets played. She finished third with 30 service aces and fourth with 219 digs. A. Barickman, a mechanical engineering major, ranked seventh all-time in school history with 1,036 career kills. 

A back-to-back CSC Academic All-District nominee, M. Barickman dished out 1,033 assists this season, the first time in her illustrious career eclipsing the 1,000 assist mark. The CCIW Setter of the Year recorded 10.13 assists per set, the 20th most in DIII. M. Barickman, a mechanical engineering major, ranks fourth in program history for career aces (156) and sixth in assists (2,983).

Benson, a sophomore from Geneva, Ill., led the Cardinals in blocks this season with 67 at the net. The middle blocker ranked third on the team with 212 kills over her 29 matches played this season. Benson is pursuing a degree in biomedical science from North Central.

Both A. Barickman and M. Barickman, along with Houlihan will advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot, which will be announced on Tuesday, Jan. 14th. They each look to become the first Academic All-American in program history.

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