Nov. 6, 2008

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - University of Tennessee sophomore outside hitter Nikki Fowler has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America on Thursday. The Dallas, Texas, native will move on to the national ballot where she attempt to become the program's second All-American in three years.

A business major, Fowler currently holds a cumulative GPA of 3.86. Since arriving at Rocky Top two seasons ago, she has launched an all-out assault on the Tennessee record book and already ranks among the top-10 in program history in both kills per set (3.40) and attacks per set (9.50).

In 2008, she leads the Lady Vols with 317 kills, 3.56 kills per set, 839 total attacks, 9.43 attacks per set, 368.5 points and 4.14 points per set. The 2007 SEC Freshman of the Year, Fowler has led the Lady Vols in kills in 17 of their 25 matches this season, accumulating double-digit totals in 17 contests as well.

Fowler is the fourth Lady Vol in as many seasons to earned academic all-district honors, following Jena Berg who earned second-team laurels last year. In 2006, Kelsey Fautsch claimed a spot on the first team en route to third-team All-America honors, while Kristen Andre was named to the second team in 2005.

The Orange and White take its league-best, seven-match winning streak on the road this weekend when it travels to Arkansas and Ole Miss. The Lady Vols will take on the Razorbacks at 7 p.m. CT in Fayetteville, Ark., on Fri., Nov. 7, before venturing down to Oxford, Miss., for a 1:30 p.m. CT showdown with the Rebels two days later.