Oklahoma’s Kierra Holst and Texas’ Molly McCage are among 10 finalists for the 2015 Senior CLASS Award in collegiate volleyball. The Big 12 is one of four conferences with multiple finalists.
McCage, a two-time All-American, is averaging 2.09 kills per set while hitting .358 for the Longhorns. She recently became Texas’ all-time leader in block assist. McCage has been involved om a multitude of community service projects and organizations. Most recently, during 2014-2015, she volunteered with the Special Olympics and assisted with the Special Olympic volleyball activities. She also helped with UT + Me Day where she demonstrated what volleyball student-athletes do in order to train for their sport. Since 2012 she has assisted with the SAAC Swimming & Diving Tailgate and the SAAC Soccer Tailgate, where supported both teams individually while networking with faculty members across campus.
Holst, a sociology major with a minor in history, is a two-time Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll selection and two-time Sooner Scholar. She has been active in the Sooners’ community service efforts; particularly in OU’s annual fund-raising effort for pediatric cancer research in the memory of Oklahoma head coach Santiago Restrepo’s youngest son Javier, who passed at the age of four in 2009.
Coming into her senior season, Holst was tabbed as the Big 12 Preseason Co-Player of the Year and earned he second unanimous, and third overall, Big 12 Preseason Team honor. As a junior, she was one of three Sooner AVCA All-America Honorable Mentions, while gaining recognition as an AVCA All-Southwest Region performer. She currently leads the Big 12 in career kills among active players at 1,079, which ranks 13th all-time at Oklahoma. Between her freshman and sophomore seasons, Holst also spent a stint with USA Volleyball on the Women’s Junior National Team and competed in the FIVB World Championship in the Czech Republic.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence; community, classroom, character and competition.
Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winner, and fans are encouraged to vote on the Senior CLASS Award website through December 7. Fan votes will then be combined with media and Division I head coaches’ votes to determine the winner. The Senior CLASS Award recipient will be announced during the 2015 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship in December.