MOBILE, Ala. | Sarah Gooch, Anna Loberg and Lillie Simons were selected to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team as announced by the organization Tuesday morning. 

Gooch and Loberg will now advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members where they will have a chance to earn first-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honors which will be announced January 14, 2025. The duo were two of eight players from the Sun Belt Conference to advance to the national ballot.

The 2024 Academic All-District® Volleyball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes volleyball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
 
To qualify for All-District honors, a student-athlete must maintain a grade-point average of 3.50 or better and compete in at least 90% of the institution's matches OR have started at least 66% of the institution's matches.

Gooch, a sport management & recreation studies major holds a 3.625 grade-point average, and in her first season with the program, earned second-team all-conference honors after ranking second on the team in kills (288) and kills per set (2.85), points (329.5) and points per set (3.26) coming off the bench, while also recording 17 aces, 100 digs and 38 total blocks. She emerged as another offensive threat in SBC play as she averaged 3.23 kills per set, which ranked 10th in the league.

Loberg, a hospitality major holds a 3.757 GPA and in her first season as a starter, was one of the top floor generals in the league. She ranked second in the Sun Belt in assists (1,022) – which ranked as eighth-most in a single season at South Alabama – and assists per set (10.12), and in league play, South's offense ranked second in assists and hitting percentage, and third in kills. Loberg averaged 11.13 assists per set during South's 10-match win streak, which saw the Jags sweep five-straight conference series. She was twice named SBC Setter of the Week, and also led the team with 24 service aces, and recorded 241 digs (2.39 per set). Loberg is a three-time Sun Belt Conference Commissioner's List selection during her career.

Simons is working on her graduate degree in mathematics and holds a 3.857 GPA. The graduate senior middle blocker started all 27 games and produced some of her best numbers in 204. She recorded 181 kills (1.79 per set). 115 total blocks – 20 solo and 95 assists – and averaged 1.14 blocks per set. She ends her Jaguar career ranked eighth in career block assists (249) and is tied for 10th in both career total blocks (292) and blocks per set (0.92). Her 1.14 blocks per set this season were tied for 10th-most in program history and ranked among the conference leaders. Simons was even stronger at the net in conference play as she averaged 1.33 blocks per set, which ranked fourth most. She is a four-time SBC Commissioner's List selection during her career.

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