University of Memphis Athletics
Nov 13, 2004 | Volleyball
Nov. 13, 2004
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - For the third consecutive year, senior setter Heather Watts (Salt Lake City, Utah/Skyline) was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District IV first team. Watts earned first team honors as a sophomore in 2003 and again as junior in 2003.
Watts, who was a 2004 C-USA Preseason All-Conference selection, leads Conference USA and ranks 23rd nationally with 1,628 assists. The senior setter was C-USA's first-ever Setter of the Week and has been selected as the Conference's weekly award on four occasions this season. She is second in school history with 5,004 assists and 1,367 digs, while also ranking in the school's top-10 with 166 service aces. A native of Sandy, Utah, Watts set the Memphis and C-USA single season assists record with 1,792 in 2003 on her way to earning AVCA All-Midwest region honorable mention recognition. The Tigers captain, Watts posted a program-high 81 assists in her last match against TCU. Earlier this season she joined former Memphis basketball standout Anfernee Hardaway as the lone Tiger athletes to ever garner four conference weekly awards in a single season.
Off the court Watts has been equally extraordinary, as she needed just three years to finish her undergraduate degree in Exercise Sport & Science and graduated in August 2004. She currently serves as the Student-Athlete Advisory Council President for the 2004-05 school year. Watts has been a C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll student and C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal honoree for three years. A Dean's list student for six semesters, Watts made a perfect 4.0 in Fall 2001 and Spring 2002.
Watts will now appear on the national ballot for Academic All-America honors. She was named to CoSIDA's Academic All-America Third team last year.
The Tigers are currently 24-9 after a five-set loss to TCU Friday night. Memphis will round out the regular season slate on Saturday when they host Houston. Saturday's match will also be the Tigers' senior night, marking the final home matches for seniors Watts and Tiara Gilkey (St. Louis, Mo./Pattonville HS). All fans in attendance will receive a set of the 2004 Memphis Volleyball team trading cards while supplies last. A senior slideshow will also take place following the match.
