Nov. 20, 2007

AUBURN - Auburn University senior Rachel Shanks was named SEC Volleyball Scholar Athlete of the Year the conference office announced Tuesday. Shanks earns the award for the second year in a row after becoming the first Auburn volleyball player to be named SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year last season.

Shanks, who is in her first year of pharmacy school at Auburn, holds a 4.00 GPA. The Madison, Ala., native started each match for the Tigers and led the team in kills per game (3.75), while finishing second on the team in digs per game (3.20). She also recorded 20 double-doubles this season.

The two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection and 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American finished her Auburn career ranked fifth all-time with 1,319 kills and third with 1,158 digs. She is just the fourth Auburn player ever to tally both 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs.

She was named to the UTSA Classic All-Tournament Team as well as MVP of the War Eagle Invitational.

In addition to her on-court success, the senior is also a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll as well as being a member of the dean's list. She has also been named Auburn Academic Top Tiger and was a part of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.