Shaffer, Turner Named to All-ACC Volleyball Academic Team

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia’s Mary Shaffer and Grace Turner were named to the 2021 All-ACC Volleyball Academic Team.

Tuesday’s announcement marked the first time that both Shaffer and Turner garnered the honor and are the first Cavaliers to do so under the direction of Virginia first-year head coach Shannon Wells.

Shaffer, a Pre-Commerce major, appeared in 28 matches, including 26 starts, and played in 99 sets in 2021. She finished third on the team in kills per set (1.91) and total kills (189). She was crowned tournament MVP of the Cavaliers’ second home tournament of the season (Sept. 17-18) and was named to the all-tournament in UVA’s first home tournament of the season (Sept. 3-4). Shaffer posted a career-high 14 kills twice in 2021 and notched a career-best four blocks in four matches this past season. Shaffer appeared on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top-10 Plays – at No. 3 – for keeping a ball in play with her foot against Georgia Tech (Oct. 8) before capping the play with a block assist.

Turner, who earned her degree in Sociology in the Fall of 2021 and is now pursuing her master’s degree at UVA, appeared in all 28 matches, including 25 starts, and played in 98 sets. She led the team in points (283.0), points per set (2.89), aces (27) and aces per set (0.28). Turner also finished second on the team in kills (228) and kills per set (2.33). In 2021, she was the only player in the ACC to post a pair of five-ace performances, her career best. Turner’s season high of 19 kills at VCU (Sept. 10) propelled Virginia to a five-set triumph over the Rams. Her 19 kills were also the most by a Cavalier in a single match in 2021. Turner was named to the all-tournament team at the Maryland Invite (Aug. 27-28), where the Cavaliers went 2-1.

Minimum academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0-grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one’s academic career. Athletic achievements during the most recent season are also considered in selecting the All-ACC Academic Team.

The ACC Honor Roll, which recognizes all conference student-athletes with a grade point average of 3.0 for the current academic year, will be released in July.