Aurora University women's volleyball senior libero Julia Wood and sophomore outside hitter Sydnei Avery were named to the CoSIDA District VII Academic All-District team, which was announced on Thursday. The Spartan duo were selected for their combined career performances in the classroom and on the field.

The Academic All-District teams are selected by CoSIDA member sports information directors within the district based on the student-athletes' academic prowess while being a steady influence on their respective athletic field. To be considered for the honor, the nominated student-athletes are required to maintain a minimum 3.30 cumulative grade-point average throughout their academic career at AU. Wood and Avery will now move on to the Academic All-America selection process.

For her career, Wood was front and center in the Spartans rise to a national program and will finish her career as the all-time digs leader with 1,869 while maintaining a 4.00 grade point average as an elementary education major. She was a 2019 CoSIDA Second-Team All-America selection and First-Team Academic All-District. She was the 2018 NCAA Elite 90 winner, a four-time AU and Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference scholar-athlete, a two-time AVCA All-Region selection, a four-time NACC All-Conference player, two-time NACC Defensive Player of the Year, AVCA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year and AVCA Honorable Mention All-American. 

Avery just completed her sophomore season as a Spartan and has built quite a resume in two seasons at AU. She can now add the CoSIDA Academic All-District honor to her accodlades that include being the 2019 AVCA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year, AVCA First-Team All-Region, Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Player of the Year, NACC Freshman of the Year, and First-Team outside hitter. She added a spring 2021 NACC All-Conference selection and is a two-time AU and NACC scholar-athlete.