UNK Athletics
Kearney, Neb. – Nebraska Kearney setter Peyton Neff has earned 2024 first-team Academic All-American honors as selected by the College Sports Communicators (CSC).
Neff (North Platte) is just the fourth Loper Volleyball player to earn this honor, following two-time selection Kelli Brummer (1999 and 2001), Kim Brumer (1998) and Jenni Mau (1998). Kelli Brummer was a middle blocker, sister Kim played in the back row and the outside with Mau a setter.
A student-athlete must first qualify for her Academic All-District team (be at least a sophomore; 3.50 cumulative GPA; start 66% of team's matches or play in 90% of team's matches) before advancing onto the national ballot. A school can also nominate no more than four players for the All-District team. Finally, CSC/Sports Information Directors from around the nation vote on the makeup of the All-American team.
In the spring of 2024, Neff graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. degree in Psychology (3.94 GPA). The AA team used spring 2024 grades; she is now a graduate student working towards a Master's in School Psychology.
On the court, Neff was one of Division II's top setters, averaging 12.4 assists, 2.5 digs, 0.7 blocks, 0.5 kills and 0.2 aces per set. Earning first-team American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American honors, she guided a Loper offense that averaged 14.6 kills per set and hit .258. In 2025, Neff will be in her fifth season at UNK. The Central Region was well represented as St. Cloud State's Kenzie Foley and Concordia-St. Paul's Teagan Starkey also made the first-team with three others on the second-team and one on the third-team. Finally, Starkey was tabbed ad the D2 “Team Member” of the Year.
UNK went 30-3 in 2024, reaching the NCAA Tournament for a 25th straight fall and finishing up the year ranked 11th in D2.