STANFORD, Calif. – Outside hitter Kathryn Plummer was named the Honda Sport Award winner for Volleyball as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).
The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 43 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports and signifies "the best of the best in collegiate athletics". With this honor, Plummer becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious Class of 2019 Honda Cup, which will be presented on a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 24 in downtown Los Angeles.
Plummer was chosen by a vote of administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Finalists included Roni Jones-Perry (BYU), Jordyn Poulter (Illinois) and Samantha Seliger-Swenson (Minnesota).
"I am extremely humbled to win this award because I know that there were many people that were also deserving, both my competitors and my teammates," said Plummer. "I am fortunate enough to be at an institution that offers me the ability to receive a world-class education and compete against the toughest opponents in the country. I am proud of how our team played throughout the season, showing humility with success.
"I am honored to be called a Stanford student-athlete and to uphold those traditions of excellence. So, thank you Stanford women's volleyball, Honda, and the CWSA for this honor."
Plummer is a two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), espnW and Pac-12 Player of the Year, and was also a Honda Award nominee last season. She is the first player since 2002 to win back-to-back AVCA Player of the Year honors and is a three-time AVCA first-team All-American. She is also a three-time All-Pac-12 Conference member having earned a nod on the team each year of her career.
The junior outside hitter from Aliso Viejo, California, led the Cardinal to the 2018 NCAA title, the second of her career, and was named the co-Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament.
She led her team with 11 double-doubles and hit .300 or better in 15 matches. Overall, she ranked sixth nationally in points per set (5.37) and 11th in kills per set (4.70).
"Kathryn had such an incredible year. We played as difficult a schedule as we could put together and every team's games plan was to try and stop her," said head coach Kevin Hambly. "She, of course, responded by dominating as only she can. Volleyball is only a small part of what makes Kathryn special. She is a great student, she is heavily involved in the community and campus. She is also one of the humblest and hardest working athletes I have ever been around. She represents volleyball in the most respectful, classiest way possible. It is truly my honor to coach her!"
The CWSA, in its 43rd year, honors the nation's top NCAA women athletes recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.1 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women's athletics programs at the institutions.