Newberry's Madison Darby-McClure Named South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Newberry's Madison Darby-McClure was voted the South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the League announced today. She earned the honor for her achievements in academics, athletics, service and leadership.

The South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one student-athlete in each of the Conference's championship sports, and is voted on by the SAC's Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee.

Darby-McClure, a senior engish major, has carried a 3.99 GPA all four years at Newberry.  She has earned Dean's List honors every semester in the Scarlet and White to go along with being a member of the Summerland Honors Program every year at Newberry.  She earned College Sports Information Directors Association All-America honors this past season and was also named Who's Who among American Colleges and Universities.  She is also a four-year member of the Omicron Delta Kappa National Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society and Order of Omega Greek Honor Society.

"We are extremely proud of Madison's accomplishments, both on the court and in the classroom," said Newberry volleyball head coach Todd Hay.  "She is a great example of how much hard work pays off.  Congratulations, Madison!"

The 2016 volleyball season saw the Newberry team captain rank No. 9 in the League with a .273 attack percentage.  She found the floor for 318 total kills this past season to average 2.73 kills per set.  She was named the AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week on Oct. 4 after posting 4.20 kills per set and a .493 average at the net in three South Atlantic Conference wins.  Against Queens on Nov. 11, Darby McClure  posted a double-double with 16 kills and 10 digs.  She finished her career with 561 kills for the Wolves and currently owns the highest hitting percentage in a match in school history as she posted a .733 average against Lenoir-Rhyne on Sept. 16, 2014.  A second-team All-Conference honoree last season, she led the Newberry squad to SAC Tournament appearances during her sophomore and senior campaigns.

Off the court, the middle blocker has given generous amounts of time and effort to assist in many service projects.  She has been a tutor in Newberry's Wessels Library Writing Center in each of her four years at Newberry as well as the Lacune Literary Magazine assistant editor all four years as a Wolf.  She served three years as the Vice President of the National Society of Leadership and Success and has been the Honor Council Chairman of the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority as a junior and senior.  A four year member of the Blue Key Honor Society, she has served as an after school program assistant at the Living Hope Community Center every year she has been at Newberry.

Other Nominees:
Marissa Mitter, Anderson
Savannah Cox, Brevard
McKenzie Garrison, Catawba
Madison Bingle, Coker
Ashley Markland, Lenoir-Rhyne
Rebecca Cochran, Queens
Rachel Garnett, Tusculum
Oakley Attaway, Wingate