Three Aggies garner academic honors

College Sports Communicators announced its 2025 Volleyball Academic All-District Team. The list highlights hundreds of student-athletes that excel both in the classroom and on the floor, spanning NAIA and all three divisions of the NCAA. Tess Fuqua, Nellie Reese and Claudia Rossi were the three NM State representatives to earn the honor.

In total, 31 student-athletes from Conference USA were named to the list. Delaware, FIU, Kennesaw State, LA Tech, Missouri State and UTEP led all CUSA institutions with four honorees, while NM State and WKU followed with three. Liberty rounded out the list with two selections.

The trio all joined the Crimson & White in the spring of 2024, completing their second campaign with the Aggies in 2025. The duo of Reese and Rossi were the team’s two leaders in assists this year, racking up 917 combined. Fuqua made her collegiate debut and posted 279 kills to rank second on the squad. The three honorees also amassed a total of 481 digs and 67 aces this fall. 

Fuqua completed her redshirt sophomore season with a 3.68 GPA in exercise science. Reese, who holds a 3.92 GPA, is set to graduate in May with a degree in individualized studies. Rossi recently wrapped up her redshirt sophomore campaign, but will graduate in May. Pursuing a criminal justice major, the setter currently holds a perfect 4.00 GPA.

All three Aggies picked up the first such honor of their career. To qualify for Academic All-District, student-athletes must hold a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50 and must have appeared in 90 percent of their team's matches or started at least 66 percent of contests.