Townsend Recognized for Elite 90 Award

Nebraska volleyball rising senior Sydney Townsend was recognized for her Elite 90 award at halftime of the NCAA men's basketball championship game Monday night in Phoenix, Arizona.

Townsend, a Lincoln Pius X graduate, received the award in December at the NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship banquet in Ohio. The Elite 90 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals at each of the NCAA's championships. Townsend, majoring in biochemistry, had a 3.84 cumulative GPA. She is a three-time academic All-Big Ten selection and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. 

Townsend said she was grateful to be invited to attend the game in Phoenix.

"It is great to receive recognition for the hard work we put in as students, because sometimes that goes unnoticed," Townsend said. "I could not have reached this point without all the support of my family and everyone in Nebraska, the staff, the coaches and my teammates."

The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers.