Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University All-American setter Shannon Kasprak has added another huge honor to cap off her incredible career, being named the 2023 South Atlantic Conference Female Athlete of the Year. The SAC Male and Female Athletes of the Year are selected by a vote of the league's athletic directors.

"Shannon is a special athlete and so deserving of this honor," head coach Lauren Tekavec says. "She is a fierce competitor and an incredibly hard worker. She has put so many extra hours to get to where she is now and she ended her career as a force to be reckoned with. Shannon exemplifies Wingate volleyball and we are so proud of what she represents."

Kasprak gives Wingate 12 SAC Athletes of the Year all-time, the most in league history. She gives the Bulldogs seven SAC Female Athletes of the Year in program history. Tonya Roper was the school's first-ever SAC Athlete of the year in 1994. Anna Atkinson took home the honor in 2008, while Stormi Gale became the first Wingate volleyball player to take home the hardware in 2011. Jade Montgomery won the award three straight years from 2013 through 2015, the only male or female athlete in league history to win the award three times. Kasprak is the first Bulldog to earn Female Athlete of the Year accolades since Montgomery's final trophy came in 2015. The 'Dogs had the Male Athlete of the Year in 2022, when lacrosse All-American Willie Grieco took home the honor.

Kasprak had an incredible 2022 season to cap her illustrious career. She was named the SAC Player of the Year for the second time in her career, while also being named the NCAA Southeast Region Player of the Year by the AVCA and D2CCA. Kasprak earned second team All-American honors from the AVCA and third team All-American recognition from the D2CCA. She was also named the SAC Tournament MVP for the second time in her career, earning first team All-SAC and All-Region accolades while also earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team at the NCAA Southeast Regionals.

Kasprak ran a Wingate offense that ranked in the top 10 nationally in hitting percentage, assists per set and kills per set, while also playing a huge role in a WU defense that ranked second nationally in opponents hitting percentage. In addition to her 10.36 assists per set, Kasprak ranked second on the team in digs and aces and third in blocks, while piling up 149 kills with a .326 hitting percentage. She was the only player in the nation with over 10 assists per set that averaged over 1.2 kills per set. Her 149 kills were more than any player with over 10 assists per set in the country. Kasprak piled up 20 double-doubles on the season.

Kasprak led the 'Dogs to the SAC regular season and tournament championships, while also leading Wingate to the regional title. Wingate went 32-3 overall and 17-1 in SAC play, capturing the regular season SAC title for the 16th time in the last 17 years, adding a 13th SAC Tournament title in that time frame. The 'Dogs earned regional hosting duties for the ninth times since 2008. The Bulldogs lost a tough five-set match in the national quarterfinals against eventual national champion West Texas A&M. Kasprak became the first-ever Bulldog to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team at the NCAA National Championships.

After wrapping up her collegiate career, Kasprak continued to make history, becoming the first player in program history to sign a professional contract in Europe, joining TSV Sparkasse Hartberg in Austria. The three-time All-SAC honoree and two-time SAC Player of the Year finished her career with 3,280 assists, 1,109 digs, 337 kills, 148 blocks and 147 aces, while compiling a 129-14 overall record with an 80-7 mark in SAC play.  

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a laboratory of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina. Wingate offers 38 undergraduate majors as well as seven master's and four doctoral degrees. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the Byrum School of Business; the Thayer School of Education; and the School of Sport Sciences. 
 
Wingate is a leader in healthcare education, and nearly one in five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 25 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 15 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.