Golden Bear volleyball player being considered as top female student athlete in nation
Former Concordia University, St. Paul, volleyball student-athlete and current assistant coach Ellie Duffy has advanced to the NCAA Woman of the Year Top-9 Finalist stage. Duffy is one of three finalists from the NCAA Division II level, joined by three each from Divisions I and III to comprise the nine finalists. The honor is in recognition of their accomplishments in academics, athletics, community service, and leadership.
Ellie Duffy
The nine finalists are among 30 Woman of the Year honorees who will be recognized during the event which announces the winner on October 20 at a ceremony in Indianapolis. They advanced from an initial nomination pool of more than 450 candidates, nominated by colleges, universities, and intercollegiate conferences.
“My experiences as a student-athlete have influenced every part of the person I am today,” Duffy said. “They have shown me how significant the seemingly little choices in life are.”
As a four-year member of Concordia University, St. Paul’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and a two-year women’s volleyball team captain, Duffy was a campus and team leader. Her dedication to help her community led to her participation in more than 15 service projects, including a mission trip to Guatemala, where she spent 10 days helping those in need. Other service included Tri-Pi Math Club, Concordia University Science Club, Feed My Starving Children, Gillette Children’s Hospital volunteer and an Immaculate Conception Elementary School lunch volunteer.
Duffy was also dedicated to school work. She was named to the Dean’s List from 2009-2012 and was a four-time Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NCIS) All-Academic.
She helped lead the Golden Bears to four NCAA Division II women’s volleyball national championships in each of her years of eligibility and was an NSIC first-team All-Conference in 2012. She was an American Volleyball Coaches Association second-team All-America selection in 2012, and has been named an assistant coach for the 2013 volleyball season.
Tags: Bob Hulteen, Concordia University St. Paul, Dean's List, Ellie Duffy, Feed My Starving Children, Golden Bears, NCAA Division II volleyball, NCAA Woman of the Year, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, volleyball
