courtesy Ball State State University Athletic Department

MUNCIE, Ind. (11-18-21) – Ball State’s Lauren Gilliland was one of only two student-athletes in the Mid-American Conference to find her name on the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District 5 Women’s Volleyball Team. 

Gilliland, a sophomore middle blocker from Coldwater, Ohio, carries a perfect 4.0 GPA while majoring in elementary education. Gilliland was a 2021 preseason All-MAC selection and has turned in an impressive season thus far for the Cardinals. She recently helped Ball State claim the 2021 MAC regular season championship allowing the Cardinals to host the MAC Tournament (Nov. 21, 22 & 24) in Worthen Arena. 

Gilliland currently ranks first in the Mid-American Conference and is 43rd national in attack percentage (.373). She has registered 219 kills and has played in all 30 matches this season.  

Gilliland had a season-high 13 kills twice: once against Northern Kentucky (Sept. 18) and again in league action against Ohio (Sept. 30). She has reached double figure kills eight times this season. She also leads the Ball State defense and ranks 11th in the MAC with a 0.89 blocks-per-set average. She has a team-high 24 solo blocks, to go along with a team-best 75 block assists for 99 total blocks.

The 2021 Academic All-District® Women’s Volleyball Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes volleyball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.  

First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in mid-December.  

The Ball State women’s volleyball team will be the top seed in next week’s 2021 Mid-American Conference Tournament. The Cardinals will play Monday at 4:30 p.m. ET in Worthen Arena against the winner of Sunday’s opening match between No. 4 Western Michigan versus No. 5 Toledo. 

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