University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Elif Unlu Named UNC Asheville Woman of the Year
05.25.2007 | Women's Volleyball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Big South Conference announced today that senior volleyball player Elif Unlu has been selected as UNC Asheville's Woman of the Year.
Unlu was one of eight athletes in the Big South Conference to be nominated for Big South Woman of the Year. Liberty University track and field standout Arlene Zelinskas was named Big South Woman of the Year.
Unlu, a three-time volleyball All-Conference selection - including two First-team nods, was named honorable mention All-America by the AVCA in 2005. She earned Big South All-Tournament team honors twice, was named to the League's All-Freshman team in 2003, was selected as UNC Asheville's Female Athlete of the Year in 2006, was the Western North Carolina College Athlete of the Year and a North Carolina All-State player this past season. Unlu is a Presidential Honor Roll member, received the David Reiner Outstanding Achievement in Economics Award and was a four-year member of the Athletic Director's 3.0 Club. While at Asheville, Unlu was a four-year member of SAAC and served as president in 2005-06, and was involved in Student Government and the Economics Club. Unlu graduated from UNC Asheville on May 12 with a degree in Economics.
A native of Izmir, Turkey, Unlu finished her UNC Asheville career fourth in career kills with 1,709 and sixth in career digs with 1,427. She is also third in attempts with 4,546, fifth in service aces with 139, and ninth in attack percentage at .231.
"I am always amazed at the accomplishments of our Woman of the Year nominees, and this year is no different," said Big South Conference Commissioner Kyle B. Kallander. "These are outstanding young women that deserve this recognition and praise. They represent the highest ideals of collegiate athletics in the Big South."
