CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – Senior volleyball player Avery Jolley has been tabbed as the 2024-25 Big South Co-Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, a feat that has never been accomplished by a female Eagle.
She is the first Winthrop athlete since pitcher Kevin Slowey in 2004-05 to be named winner of the award.
Jolley tied for the honor with High Point track and field runner Brianna Malone, the Big South Conference announced July 21. The annual Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year is voted on by the Big South Sports Information Directors from a pool of each sport’s Scholar-Athlete winner during the past season. The is the first time co-winners have been voted since the inception of the awards in 1995-96.
About Avery Jolley
A resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, Jolley has earned a perfect 4.00 GPA in her business administration major with a concentration in healthcare management. Jolley earned First-Team All-Conference honors last season after helping the Eagles reach the Big South Championship final and secure a spot in the postseason tournament, the National Invitation Volleyball Championship.
A five-time President's List honoree, three-time Big South Presidential Honor Roll selection, and recipient of the Commissioner's Award, Jolley also is a member of Winthrop's Honors College and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She previously served as treasurer of Winthrop's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
On the court, Jolley led the Eagles with 320 kills, ranked second in the Big South with 3.64 kills per set, and averaged 4.00 points per set to rank second in the league. She surpassed 500 career digs last season, finishing 10th in the conference with 3.00 digs per set. Jolley has earned All-Conference recognition in each of her three seasons at Winthrop: First-Team in 2024, Second-Team in 2023, and Honorable Mention in 2022.
"I'm incredibly proud of Avery for earning this recognition from the conference. To those who know Avery, this does not come as a surprise," said Head Coach Heather Gearhart. "She pushes herself to be the best version of herself in every aspect of her life on and off the court. She is a natural leader by example for others. She has a tremendous future ahead of her, and we are happy to support her through her journey."
For more information, contact Brett Redden of Winthrop Athletics at reddenb@winthrop.edu.
