MADISON, Wis. (blugolds.com) - University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball's Madelyn Pashibin (Sr. – Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) has been selected the recipient of the 2018 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Volleyball Scholar-Athlete Award.
 
A senior from Minneapolis, Minn. (Southwest), Pashibin maintains a 3.65 grade point average and is majoring in biology with an emphasis in environmental biology and ecology. She is a two-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and been recognized on UW-Eau Claire's Dean's List numerous semesters.
 
She was recently selected the WIAC Offensive Player of the Year and claimed all-conference first team honors for the second straight season. Pashibin helped UW-Eau Claire secure the WIAC regular-season and tournament titles this year. In 2017, she received American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America honorable mention honors and AVCA All-Midwest Region first team recognition. In 2016, Pashibin was selected the team's Top Newcomer.
 
Pashibin is a member of UW-Eau Claire's Biology Club and volunteered with the Minnesota Zoo, Boys and Girls Club, Community Table, Children's Museum of Eau Claire and UW-Eau Claire Volleyball Camp.
 
Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were:  UW-La Crosse's Marisa Johnson (Sr., Spencer, Wis.); UW-Oshkosh's Carly Lemke (Sr., Oconto Falls, Wis.); UW-Stout's Kennedy Strain (Sr., Elk River, Minn.); and UW-Whitewater's Kelley Berk (Sr., Cedarburg, Wis./Milwaukee Divine Holy Savior Angels).

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Judy Kruckman, who served as Assistant Commissioner for the WIAC from 1996-98. Prior to this appointment, she was Commissioner of the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC) from October, 1984 - September, 1996. Kruckman was the women's athletics director at UW-Eau Claire from 1974-84, and one of the original representatives to the WWIAC when it formed in 1971.
 
In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.50 grade point average. In addition, she must be in her last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.