JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State junior Lauren Harkins has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team by the College Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA), the organization announced on Thursday.

Harkins, a libero from Louisville, Ky., was a third team selection in District 4, thanks to a 3.9 grade point average in political science. Of the 19 student-athletes named in the district, she was one of just six that carries a cumulative GPA of at least 3.9.

“I am extremely proud of Lauren,” JSU head coach Rick Nold said. “This shows how well-rounded she is as a student-athlete. Se is one of our hardest workers in the gym, and this shows how hard she works in the classroom.”

Harkins has been the driving force behind the Gamecocks' defense this season, leading the way with 5.09 digs per set, putting her on pace to break the school record for digs per set in a season. Already the school's single season record holder for digs after her 662 last year, her 484 digs in 2010 are the sixth-most in school history with at least four matches remaining.

In her career, she has amassed 1,628 digs in less than three seasons, making her the third player in school history to reach 1,600 digs and the first to do so by her junior season. She trails just Brittney Whitten (1,689) and Kisha West (1,745) on the school's career digs list.

Harkins and the Gamecocks host a pair of weekend matches at Pete Mathews Coliseum this week, beginning with a 7 p.m. match against UT Martin on Friday. They will close the weekend with a 2 p.m. match against Murray State on Saturday. Admission is free to all JSU home volleyball matches.