MANHATTAN, Kan. – Brynn Carlson was selected to the 2020-21 Academic All-America First Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), becoming the K-State’s third two-time honoree, the organization announced Monday.
Carlson becomes just the second Wildcat to be named Academic All-America First Team and the first since Cari Jensen in 2003. Carlson was selected to the 2019 Academic All-America Third Team and joins JuliAnne Chisholm (2009-10) and Jensen (2002-03) as the only Cats to earn Academic All-America honors twice.
Her Academic All-America award marks the seventh such honor is program history and sixth under head coach Suzie Fritz.
In addition to her pair of Academic All-America honors, Carlson’s academic résumé now includes two CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team selections in addition to three Academic All-Big 12 First Team accolades.
Carlson boasted a perfect 4.0 grade-point average in earning her master’s degree in nutrition, dietetics and kinesiology. Carlson was one of six to produce a perfect GPA on the All-America squads and one of three on the eight-member first team. Carlson was the only representative on the first team from the Big 12.
The 6-foot-4 Woodbury, Minnesota, native has been a first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection each of the last three seasons while also claiming Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team honors in 2017-18.
During the 2020 season, Carlson averaged 2.73 kills per set while hitting .209 with 22 digs and 17 blocks. She reached double-figure kills seven times, including a season-high 20 kills twice.
Carlson produced her first 300-kill season in 2019, leading the Cats offense with 309 kills and 328 points. She set career highs in kills per set (2.83), sets played (109), hitting percentage (.203) and digs (67).
K-State (13-8, 10-6 Big 12) finished third in the Big 12 standings during the 2020-21 season, marking its highest conference finish since 2008.
The 2021 season is set to begin Friday, August 27 at the Nebraska Invitational. The Wildcats’ home opener is scheduled for Thursday, September 9 against Ohio at Bramlage Coliseum. Season tickets are now on sale here.