Ball State University Athletics
Anders Nelson Earns NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
July 06, 2011 | Men's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Ball State University men's volleyball three-year letterwinner Anders Nelson (St. Croix Falls, Wis./St. Croix Falls H.S.) has been named a recipient of the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship as announced by the NCAA office in Indianapolis. Nelson was a middle blocker for the Cardinals from 2009-11 after transferring in from the University of Minnesota.
"Congratulations to Anders for earning this very prestigious award," said Ball State head coach Joel Walton. "This award is special because it recognizes his personal and academic accomplishments, along with his athletic accolades. It is further proof Anders represents what a student-athlete should be in college. I am very proud to have had Anders as a member of our program for the past three years. This is a well-deserved accomplishment he has worked hard to achieve."
The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was created in 1964 to promote and encourage postgraduate education by rewarding the Association's most accomplished student-athletes through their participation in NCAA championship and/or emerging sports. Athletic and academic achievements, as well as campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership, are evaluated.
Each year, the NCAA awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships annually, 87 for men and 87 for women. The one-time grants of $7,500 each are awarded for fall sports, winter sports and spring sports. Each sports season (fall, winter and spring), there are 29 scholarships available for men and 29 scholarships available for women. The scholarships are one-time, non-renewable grants.
On the court this past season, Nelson was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America Second Team, the Volleyball Magazine All-America Third Team and was the runner-up for the inaugural "Off the Block" Blocker of the Year award. A First Team All-Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association selection, he finished the 2011 campaign ranked second in the MIVA rankings and fourth nationally with a 1.30 blocks-per-game average. He tallied an NCAA-best 35 solo blocks to go along with 109 block assists for a total of 144 blocks. His effort at the net also had the Cardinals ranked first nationally with a team average of 3.07 blocks per game.
Academically, Nelson graduated Summa Cum Laude from Ball State University this past spring with a 3.915 grade-point average as a double major in accounting and finance. A three-time Academic All-MIVA honoree, Nelson was also named to the 2009-10 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 5 Men's At-Large First Team, while earning recognition on the BSU Dean's List every semester he was enrolled.
As an assistant coach, Nelson helped guide the Munciana Samurai 18-Open squad to the 2011 AAU National Championship this spring. He also served as an assistant coach at Burris Laboratory School in Muncie, Ind., the past two years, helping lead the Owls to a pair National High School Runner-Up finishes and two Indiana Class 2A State Championship titles.
