CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga volleyball senior middle blocker Courtney Barnes (Franklin, Tenn.) was named to the ESPN Academic All-District IV First Team on Tuesday. This is the third all-district honor for Barnes, but the first with first team honors.

With the first team selection, Barnes will be nominated for the ESPN Academic All-America team voted upon by CoSIDA with the team being released on Nov. 22.

“It is a great honor for Courtney [Barnes] to be named to the first team,” said head coach Lisa Rhodes. “It proves the fact that you can have a true student-athlete. She has not only excelled on the court, but in the classroom.”

Academically, she had earned a 3.91 grade-point average as a Health and Human Performance major and has shown her dedication on the court and in the classroom.

The Franklin, Tenn., native has been the Lady Mocs primary offensive threat during her senior campaign. Her presence as a middle blocker has allowed for the team's young outside hitter an opportunity to generate kills down the line and cross court.

“She has stepped up and been a senior leader for our team with the experience that she has had as a player,” said Rhodes. “Overall, she has been a great role model for our players as a student and as an athlete.”

She has recorded 2.33 kills per set, while hitting at .337 percent to lead the team and is fourth in the Southern Conference in hitting percentage. Over her four-year career, she has compiled a .310 attacking percentage, which ranks second all-time in Chattanooga history.

Barnes paces the team with 20 solo blocks and is second on the team with 87 total blocks. For her career, the senior ranks seventh in total blocks with 261, eighth in block assists with 206 and ninth in solo blocks with 55.

As a sophomore, she was honored by ESPN/CoSIDA as an All-District IV Second Team and was a Third Team selection last season.

Joining Barnes on the first team was Western Michigan's Allyson Doyle, Memphis' Christine Bach, Morehead State's Holly Evans and Kirstie Brangers and Tennessee's Nikki Fowler.

The Lady Mocs head to the mountains this weekend to face Appalachian State and Western Carolina starting with a matchup with the Mountaineers at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Be sure to come out and bid farewell to Barnes and seniors Jessica Scott (Lawrence, Kan.) and Bailee Chastain (Signal Mountain, Tenn.) on Nov. 13 against Davidson at 6 p.m. in Maclellan Gym. The match follows the Mocs football game against Samford at Finley Stadium with kickoff beginning at 2 p.m.