Acker Joins Volleyball Team After Early Graduation

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Acker Joins Volleyball Team After Early Graduation
Mustangs add All-State setter to 2012 freshmen class

Jan. 19, 2012

DALLAS (SMU) - Avery Acker joined the SMU volleyball team this semester after graduating early from Poth High School in Poth, Texas. She will begin competition with the Mustangs as a freshman in the fall.

Acker, a four-time All-State selection, led the Poth Pirates to a Texas State Championship as a senior, playing setter and right-side hitter. The team went 45-10 overall during the 2011 campaign. Acker was named to the All-State Tournament team, and also earned Academic All-State and Academic All-District honors. She will also participate in the Texas All-Star Game in June.

"Avery is an incredibly athletic setter," head coach Lisa Seifert. "She started setting later in her career, so it's great that she is here now to get the necessary training before the fall season. She is a true athlete who has competed in various sports and always finds a way to win."

During her freshman and sophomore seasons at Freer High School in Freer, Texas, Acker was captain of the varsity team, named District MVP after both seasons, and was twice named to the All-State and Academic All-District teams. She was also named All-South Texas Newcomer of the Year as a freshman and All-South Texas Hitter of the Year as a sophomore.

After moving to Poth, Acker changed positions, going from middle blocker to setter and right-side hitter. She was third on the team with 202 kills during her junior season. Playing primarily as a setter, Acker recorded a team-high 611 assists. She was named District Setter of the Year, All-State Honorable Mention, Academic All-District, and was selected to the All-State Tournament team.

The Mustangs return eight letterwinners and three starters from last season's team, which swept Conference USA Champion Tulsa. Acker will join Cailin Bula and Abbey Bybel, who have signed National Letters of Intent, in the 2012 SMU freshman class.