HIALEAH, FL – Florida National University (FNU) Volleyball Player Brianne Ballow was selected for the United States Collegiate Athletic Association’s (USCAA) National All-Academic Team.
The USCAA accepts nominations for its National All-Academic Team for each sport offered by a member institution during that sport’s season. In order to make the all-academic team, student-athletes must have earned 24 or more credits and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 (on a 4.00 point system) or greater, documented by his/her unofficial transcript.
Ballow, currently a junior at FNU with a 3.75 GPA, fulfilled both requirements.
“School has never come easy for me,” said Ballow. “So to hear that I had won an award for my academics while living on my own, working, going to school full-time and do what I love really felt like I had accomplished something, like all my hard work paid off and most importantly, it was something that my family and I could be proud of.”
Needless to say, her family here at FNU is proud of her too.
“We couldn’t have been any happier when we heard the news about Brianne,” said FNU Head Women’s Volleyball Coach Carlos Huaroto-Luque. “This shows that our players are not only producing on the court but in the classrooms too, which is what being a student-athlete is all about.”
Being both a student and an athlete is not new for Ballow. She picked up her first volleyball in Indiana at the age of five and since then she’s had to juggle between playing sports and excelling in the classroom. She played throughout middle and high school and moved down from Indiana to Florida two years ago to play on her first college team after accepting a volleyball scholarship from South Florida State College in Avon Park, FL and just last year, she became an FNU Conquistador.
She went from sitting on the bench at South Florida to becoming a star.
“I’ve never been the captain before,” said Ballow. “At South Florida, I struggled; Volleyball wasn’t fun for me and coming here and getting to become a leader and have so much support helped a lot.”
Ballow is one of two key players returning this upcoming season. The rest of the team is made up of new players.
“This year, we have much more talent and much more heart. We’re all about nationals and playing with heart,” said Ballow. “We’re not a first year program anymore; we’re here to make a statement.”
For a schedule of our upcoming volleyball games, please visit FNU.EDU/Athletics. For more information, about our FNU Volleyball Team, please contact Head Coach Carlos Huaroto-Luque.
Contact Information:
Carlos Huaroto-Luque
Head Women’s Volleyball Coach
Florida National University
4425 West Jose Regueiro Ave (20th)
Hialeah, Fl. 33012
www.fnu.edu
786-253-6037
chuaroto@fnu.edu
About FNU:
Florida National University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, and master degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Florida National University.
Florida National University is approved for Veterans Training by the State of Florida, Department of Veterans Affairs, Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (904) 487-2836.
The purpose of FNU is to contribute to the education of a population of diverse, presently predominantly Hispanic, cultures. The University realizes this mission through the employment and development of a faculty of scholars who are proficient in the art of teaching. FNU strives to prepare students for employment in their chosen career or advanced studies through the acquisition of the required skills and knowledge needed for the successful completion of the program of studies.
FNU strives to provide the educational facilities and resources that support intensive study sessions in order to foster a quality education according to the student’s personal goals and the advancement of modern technology.
Furthermore, FNU provides educati onal and cultural programs intended to enrich the community it serves.
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