GREENWOOD, Ind. – The College Sports Communicators (CSC) announced the 2024 Academic All-District® recipients for the sport of volleyball on Tuesday morning, recognizing the student-athletes' success on the court and in the classroom. For just the third time in program history Black Hills State has individuals recognized and for the first time they have seen multiple selections in a single year as BHSU has the maximum number of four receiving the honor, including Abigail Renner, Brooke Miller, Ellie Thomas, and Emily Freeland. Both Miller and Thomas have been selected to advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced January 14, 2025.
 
Renner appeared in all 26 matches during the 2024 season, making 23 starts while playing in all 96 sets for the Yellow Jackets. She recorded her third consecutive season of 200 or more kills as she tallied 247 on the season with an average of 2.57 kills per set. Additionally, she surpassed 200 digs for the second consecutive year with 289 total and an average of 3.01 per set. She also posted 29 service aces (0.30 aces per set), 27 blocks (0.28 blocks per set), and 11 assists (0.11 assists per set). Renner notched nine double digit kill performances and 12 double digit dig outings that resulted in seven double-doubles during the season. The Lander, Wyoming, native recorded a season-high of 21 kills and a career-high of 27 digs in a 5-set win over Minnesota Crookston in the Yellow Jacket Classic. Renner has accumulated a 3.94 undergraduate GPA and a 4.00 graduate GPA as a biology & chemistry major.
 
Miller appeared in and started 19 matches, playing in 63 sets prior to a season-ending injury, as she was a key piece of the Black Hills State offensive attack, leading the team in kills and kills per set the majority of the year. In her lone season in the Green & Gold, the 2024 Honorable Mention All-RMAC selection tallied 200 kills, averaging 3.17 per set, while also adding 211 digs (3.35 digs per set), 22 service aces (0.35 aces per set) 13 blocks (0.21 blocks per set), and five assists (0.08 assists per set). She notched a total of 12 double digit kill performances and 11 double digit dig outings that resulted in nine double-doubles. The Las Vegas, Nevada, native recorded career-highs of 17 kills against Montana State Billings and Regis, and 23 digs against Western Colorado. Immediately following her final match played during the season she ranked eighth in the RMAC in total kills and 11^th in kills per set on October 22. Miller has accumulated a 3.89 GPA as a history major.
 
Thomas appeared in all 26 matches and played all 96 sets as the libero for the Yellow Jackets in 2024. She was among the top defensive players in the RMAC, ranking fourth in the conference in digs per set (4.55) and seventh in total digs (437). The Gillette, Wyoming, native recorded double digit digs in 22 of 26 matches this year, including nine matches of 20 or more and a season-high of 31 in a match-up with New Mexico Highlands. Additionally, she notched 57 assists (0.59 assists per set), 27 service aces (0.28 aces per set), and one kill (0.01 kills per set). Thomas has accumulated a 3.82 GPA as a human services major.
 
Freeland appeared in all 26 matches while making 17 starts and playing in 90 sets in 2024 as she totaled 143 kills (1.59 kills per set), 122 digs (1.36 digs per set), 35 blocks (0.39 blocks per set), 15 assists (0.17 assists per set), and nine service aces (0.10 aces per set). She recorded four double digit kill performances and five double digit dig performances, resulting in a pair of double-doubles with a 12-kill, 14-dig performance against UCCS and a 10-kill, 15 dig performance against Minnesota Crookston. Freeland has also earned a spot on the RMAC Academic Honor Roll this fall as she has accumulated a 3.70 GPA as an exercise science major.
 
School's athletic communication staffs are allowed to nominate up to four student-athletes for a spot on the CSC Academic All-District® list. To be eligible individuals must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.50 in their academic career and compete in 90 percent of the institution's matches played or must start in at least 66 percent of the institution's matches.