Hall wins big college award

Multi-talented Barbadian athlete Shakera “Smilie” Hall is smiling even more after receiving another major award in the United States.

The former Coleridge & Parry schoolgirl was named Volleyball Offensive Player Of The Year last Friday by the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).

Hall, a student of Saint Augustine’s University in North Carolina, was bestowed with the honour the day after being selected to the All-CIAA volleyball first team for the second consecutive year.

A pre-season All-CIAA choice, Hall built on last season’s triumph to become the top outside hitter in the conference.

She leads the CIAA in total kills (262), kills per set (5.04) and total points (282.5), while ranking third nationally among Division 2 players in kills per set and fifth in points per set. She is the conference leader in kills per set for the second straight year.

Surrounded by a young supporting cast, Hall was an offensive leader for the Lady Falcons, leading the team in kills 15 times in 16 matches. She was also solid in defence and was ranked second on the team in total digs (134) and digs per set (2.58).

The former CARIFTA Games sprint hurdler won the prestigious individual award even though volleyball is not her first-choice sport.

She is a member of the internationally-renowned SAU track and field team, and was named the 2017 CIAA Women’s Indoor Field Most Valuable Player after winning the pentathlon for the second time in her career.

A business administration major, Hall is an outstanding scholar-athlete with a 3.93 cumulative grade point average. In the summer, she was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-America track and field third team.

She was highlighted by the Division 2 Athletics Directors Association for having a cumulative GPA higher than 3.5. (EZS)