“Jessica Lucas exemplifies everything that is good about college athletes,” WKU head coach Travis Hudson shared. “What an incredible honor to close out a tremendous career at WKU.”
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. 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.
“These past four year have been such a blessing,” Lucas opened. “I have been able to play for some of the best coaches in the game, with some of the best players in the nation and in front of the greatest fans anyone could ask for…Hilltopper Nation. To finish my career as a Senior CLASS Award finalist is so surreal. I’d just like to say thank you to all of the people who played a part in molding me into the person I am today.”
Working just as hard in the classroom and community as the four-time AVCA All-American does on the court, Lucas presents a lengthy list of campus involvement. Lucas is heavily involved with the Hope 4 Harlie and Friends of Jaclyn Foundations while also racking up community service hours through WKU Athletics’ Hilltoppers with Heart campaign. The WKU representative has spent time on the Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll and additionally earned a spot on the C-USA All-Academic Team the last two seasons.
Following a decorated career on The Hill, Lucas culminated her legacy by resetting the program’s career assists record in her final match wearing the red and white. The Seymour, Ind., native’s tally came to rest at 5,338 career assists, surpassing the previous record of 5,294 held by her predecessor, Melanie Stutsman.
Over the eight years of the Senior CLASS Award’s existence, only seven setters have been named finalists – all from Power 5 programs, except Lucas. Of those seven finalists, Lucas becomes just the fourth to take home first team status. She is also just the eighth non-Power 5 student-athlete to earn first team honors.
In Conference USA history, Lucas is just the second volleyball player to be named a Senior CLASS Award finalist. The setter is the only first-team Senior CLASS All-American in the league’s history as UAB’s Sam Serley earned second-team status back in 2012.
First-Team Senior CLASS Award All-Americans
Kelsey Bittinger, Kent State
Lily Johnson, Missouri State
Simone Lee, Penn State
Jessica Lucas, WKU
Haleigh Washington, Penn State
Second-Team Senior CLASS Award All-Americans
Ashley Dusek, Kentucky
Jaelyn Keene, Illinois State
Abbie Lehman, Wichita State
Mary-Kate Marshall, Oregon State
Katie Staiger, Baylor
How to Follow the Lady Toppers: For complete information on WKU Volleyball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUVolleyball and head coach Travis Hudson at @TravisHudsonWKU.
-@WKUSports-
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Jessica Leifheit
Assistant Director
WKU Athletic Communications/Media Relations
