Sept. 24, 2012

By Craig Buchanan
Athletic Media Relations

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Colorado State’s Dana Cranston is among 30 NCAA Division I senior women’s volleyball student-athletes named to the 2012 Senior CLASS Award candidate class. The award honors senior student-athletes who excel both on and off the court, having notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character, and competition.

Cranston, an outside hitter for the Rams, carries a 3.91 grade point average in business administration. A 2012 MW Preseason Co-Player of the Year, Cranston has been a part of several community service projects, including talking about the importance of education while reading to elementary students. She is also involved with Athletes in Action and has worked countless volleyball camps and athletics events to develop the skills and passion of younger volleyball players. This year, Cranston leads the Rams with 147 kills and 3.17 kills per set while providing senior leadership for the team.

From the list of 30 candidates, a national media committee will select 10 finalists for the 2012 Senior CLASS Award in October. Those 10 names will then be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote. Fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award. The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2012 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship, which will take place December 13 and 15 in Louisville, Ky.

The 2012 candidate class includes 16 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Americans from last season. Twenty-four of the 30 candidates have maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better. Cranston joins Wyoming’s Jodi Purdy and San Diego State’s Andrea Hannasch as one of three Mountain West players named to the top 30.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award program is designed exclusively for college seniors who are utilizing their complete athletic eligibility, remaining committed to their university and pursuing the many rewards a senior season can bring. More information on the award and a complete list of the candidates can be found at www.seniorclassaward.com.