Sperry selected as candidate for Senior CLASS Award

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Bryant University volleyball senior Kirstyn Sperry (Phoenix, Ariz.) has been chosen as a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award, placing her among a list of 30 players nationally to be recognized for their contributions on and off the court.

Sperry ranks third nationally among active players in career aces with 155 and reached the 2,000-assist and 1,000-dig marks in September. A Bulldog captain, Sperry has amassed 2,317 assists, 151 blocks and 493 kills in her time in Black and Gold. The Arizona native holds Bryant's Division I single-season and career service ace records and ranks third in the Bulldogs' D1 era in career assists. Sperry was selected as NEC Setter of the Year as a junior in 2017 and named to the NEC Commissioner's Honor Roll.

Off the court, Sperry has contributed to the Bryant Volleyball program's long-standing partnership with Special Olympics Rhode Island and a variety of community service efforts both in Rhode Island and in her home state of Arizona, while holding a 3.77 GPA as a finance major.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School^®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. The complete list of candidates follows this release.

Of the 30 candidates, 18 have grade-point averages of 3.5 or higher and 27 have received academic all-conference honors. Fifteen are returning American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Americans, and 10 are members of teams ranked in the AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll. Outside of academics and athletics, all candidates have been consistently involved in community service on their campus or in their communities.

The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship in December.

Volleyball Candidates