January 28, 2003
Wells, Blinzinger named GLVC Scholar Athletes of the Year
For the second year in a row, the University of Southern Indiana’s Shannon Wells, a senior volleyball player, and Emily Blinzinger, a senior tennis player, were named Great Lakes Valley Conference Scholar Athletes of the Year for their respective sports.
Wells led the Screaming Eagles to a 26-8 overall record and their first GLVC Tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament. The two-time GLVC Scholar Athlete of the Year was named the league’s Player of the Year and second team Verizon Academic All-District this fall.
The native of Merrillville, Indiana, finished her volleyball career at USI as the school’s all-time career leader in kills (1,866), digs (1,353), and service aces (319). Wells also ranks second all-time in career hitting percentage (.285) at USI. She has joined the USI women’s basketball team since the end of the volleyball season.
Blinzinger, who was named co-Scholar Athlete of the Year with Gayal Jones of the University of Indianapolis, led the Eagles to a 10-2 overall record and a second place finish in the GLVC regular season with an 8-1 mark. She is a four-time All-GLVC and three-time Academic All-GLVC performer.
The Oakland City, Indiana, native was second on the team in with an 11-4 record at number one singles and combined with Ashley Rees to lead the Eagles in doubles with an 8-3 record. She owns the USI record for career singles victories (57), doubles wins (48), and combined victories (105). Blinzinger also is a four-time All-GLVC and three-time Academic All-GLVC performer.
Wells and Blinzinger are the second and third USI student athletes to be two-time winners of the GLVC Scholar Athlete of the Year award. Andrew Majxner, a former USI men’s tennis player, won the award in the spring of 2000 and 2001. Also winning the award from USI is Jessica Pigman, women’s soccer in 1998, and Laura Compton, women’s golf in 1999.
Ray Simmons,
USI Sports Information
