ELMHURST, Ill. -  Elmhurst's Sam Szarmach has been named to the Capital One Academic All-America volleyball team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
 

Szarmach was one of six student-athletes selected to the Academic All-America third team. She finished the season recognized as a third-team AVCA All-American on the court and a third-team Academic All-American in the classroom.
 
A senior outside hitter, Szarmach closed the book on her career as a two-time All-American after earning honorable mention accolades during the 2013 season and third team honors in 2014. A first-team all-conference and all-region selection this season, Szarmach led the Bluejays in kills (523), kills per set (3.49) while ranking second on the squad in digs (427) and third in digs per set (2.85). She currently ranks ninth in the nation in total kills and is ranked 12th in total attacks. She was named the CCIW's Offensive Player of the Week twice this season and totaled a career-high 30 kills in Elmhurst's win over Southwestern University in October. She reached double figures in kills 31 times this season and recorded 19 double-doubles on the season with double digits in both kills and digs. She is the 15th player in Elmhurst history to earn first, second or third-team All-America status from the AVCA.
 
A two-time all-region and four-time all-conference selection, Szarmach finished her Elmhurst career with 1,590 kills, 141 aces, 1,294 digs and 224 blocks. She ranks third in Elmhurst history in career kills and 13th in career digs. She is one of only three players in Elmhurst history to total more than 1,500 kills and 1,200 digs for her career.  In her four years with the Bluejays, Elmhurst posted a 132-28 overall record, won a pair of conference championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament four times, including a Final Four appearance in 2012.
 
An international business major, Szarmach maintains a 3.82 grade-point average. 

Szarmach is the 35th Bluejay to earn Academic All-America honors from CoSIDA and the second volleyball player to earn the distinction over the past two seasons.
Elmhurst finished the season with a 31-9 overall record. Szarmach and the Bluejays qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consective season and were nationally ranked throughout the year.