DURHAM, N.C. — North Carolina Central senior defensive specialist Jessica Pilivi has been named to the 2019 Academic All-District® Volleyball Team, selected by CoSIDA, which recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
 
Pilivi is one of eight NCAA Div. I honorees for District 3 who were selected out of a large group of nominees from all Div. I programs within the states of North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.
 
Pilivi boasts a 3.92 grade point average (GPA) as a behavioral science major at NCCU with a concentration in psychology. She is in her second and final season with the Eagles after transferring in from Casper College.
 
The product of West Jordan, Utah, has played in 28 matches this season, including 10 starts. Pilivi is averaging 1.65 digs per set after shifting from being an outside hitter last season to primarily as a defensive specialist this season. She has reached double-digit digs in seven matches, including a season-best 14 digs at East Carolina.
 
Pilivi has totaled 337 digs, 84 kills, 17 aces, 17 blocks and 15 assists in 53 matches for the maroon and gray heading into her Senior Night match Friday, Nov. 15 against Florida A&M.
 
Pilivi becomes the third NCCU volleyball player to be voted to a CoSIDA Academic All-District® Team since the Lady Eagles joined the NCAA Div. I ranks (Kelsey Murphy 2016, Erika Ianovale 2018).
 
To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at their current institution. Nominated athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games and they are not eligible until they have completed one full calendar year at their current institution and has reached at least sophomore athletic eligibility.
 
Pilivi and other First-Team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the Academic All-America® ballot and the honorees will be announced between Dec. 9-12.