CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina outside hitter
Merry Gebel was today named to the 2020-21 Academic All-District 3 volleyball first team selected and released by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Gebel gives WCU a spot on the All-District 3 team for the third straight year as Abigail Veit claimed a spot on the team in both 2018 and 2019. Gebel is one of five Southern Conference players to earn either All-District 3 or All-District 4 accolades and is now eligible for Academic All-America honors looking to become the fifth Catamount to claim the prestigious honor and first since former volleyball standout Ramsey Herron (1998 & 1999).
A first-team All-Southern Conference and All-Tournament Team selection, Gebel finished third in the SoCon with 3.82 kills per set and fifth with 260 total kills. She finished ninth in the league in digs per set at 3.54, the only player in the SoCon to grace the top 10 in both statistical categories. Gebel led the Catamounts with 16 double-digit kill matches and 12 double-doubles. In a 3-2 win at The Citadel, Gebel recorded a career-best 25 kills and tallied a career-best 23 digs in WCU's home opener against Chattanooga.
A rising senior from Wildwood, Mo., Gebel is a Business Administration & Law major with a 3.86 cumulative grade point average. She received the SoCon Commissioners Medal for the 2019-20 season and is a two-time member of the SoCon Honor Roll. Additionally, she was a member of the 2019 Fall SoCon Academic All-Conference team.
Keep track of everything related to Catamount volleyball and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@wcu_catamounts), and Twitter (@catamounts, @CatamountVB).
Western Carolina's Academic All-District Selections:
2002: Sara Komosinski, MB
2010: Carrie Minogue, MB
2018: Abigail Veit, OH
2019: Abigail Veit, OH
2020-21:
Merry Gebel, OH
Western Carolina's Academic All-America Selections:
1986: Donna Smith (second team)
1994: Kristin Baker (second team)
1995: Kristin Baker (second team)
1998: Ramsey Herron (second team)
1999: Ramsey Herron (second team)
