Greenville, S.C – Furman volleyball student-athletes Mary Beth Headley and Grainne McGrath were selected to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, it was announced on Tuesday.

Headley, a senior from Newnan, Ga., was a second team All-SoCon selection this season after leading the Paladins with 268 kills and ranked second with 231 digs. She appeared in all 28 matches and ranked third on the team with 22 starts. She concluded the year eighth in the SoCon in service aces (29) and ninth in kills. Headley compiled 14 matches with double digit kills and 10 with 10 or more digs. She was second on the team with seven double-doubles including five against conference opponents. Headley set new career-highs this season for attack attempts, kills, assists, and blocks in a match.

McGrath, a sophomore from Knoxville, Tenn., started in all 28 matches this season for Furman and was fifth in the SoCon with 98 blocks (13 solo, 85 assisted). She led the team in blocks and was fifth in kills (168). McGrath registered four matches with at least 10 kills and finished the year with double digit kills in three of her last four matches. She posted a career best 14 kills in a home win over Samford and added double figure kills against Chattanooga, The Citadel, and Samford again in the SoCon Volleyball Championship. McGrath recorded a career high eight blocks versus Mercer and had six or more in eight contests.

Student-athletes on the all-district teams were required to maintain at least a 3.50 GPA, play in 90% of their team's games or start at least 66% of the contests.

The Paladins finished the season 17-11 overall and 8-8 in SoCon play.

The 2023 Academic All-District Volleyball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field 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.