June 10, 2004
SPOKANE, Wash. -
Western Washington University student-athletes Liz Bishop (Sr., Seattle/Mount Rainier), a setter in volleyball, and Rob White (Jr., Woodinville), a strong safety in football, have been selected the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Female and Male Scholar-Athletes of the Year for the 2003-04 season. The awards are voted on by the athletic directors at the 10 Great Northwest Athletic Conference schools.
Bishop, who was selected a first-team American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American during her junior season and was a second-team selection this past season, led the Vikings to a perfect 54-0 conference record over the past three years, while maintaining a superb 3.89 grade point average.
She paced the GNAC in assists all three seasons, finishing her career with a league record of 4,176. Her total ranks second among Western career leaders. She also ranks ninth on the school career chart in digs with 850.
The earth science/secondary education major also earned second-team College Sports Information Director of America Academic All-America honors this past season. She was also a three-time CoSIDA District VIII and GNAC academic selection.
The GNAC volleyball Player of the Year the last two seasons, Bishop was Western's Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year three times. In 2004, she helped the Vikings to a 24-2 record, the best in school history, and the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Pacific Regional.
"The honor of GNAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year sums up Liz's entire career here," Western volleyball coach Diane Flick said. "She maximized every opportunity she had, whether on the court, in the classroom or with her family and friends. She has a bright future ahead of her and all of it is due to her incredible sense of responsibility and pride."
Last fall, White led Western in tackles for the second consecutive season with 90. He ranked 14th nationally in solo tackles and 69th in total tackles, leading the Vikings to the GNAC title.
Academically, White, who is a biology/anthropology major, has a 3.76 cumulative grade point average. He was named to both the GNAC and the CoSIDA District VIII academic all-star teams this past season.
A first-team GNAC all-star, White is a three-year letter winner, starting every game in 2002 and 2003.
"Rob is very deserving of this honor and a tremendous honor it is," Western football coach Rob Smith said. "He is the consummate student-athlete. He's going to be extremely successful when his playing days are over and we're hoping for a big senior year from him (this coming fall)."
White is the second Western football player to win the award. Erik Totten took the inaugural award in 2001-02, and cross country runner Tobias Schwoerer of Alaska Anchorage won the award last season. Soccer player Nichole Sauvageau of Seattle University won the women's award each of the previous two years.
LIZ BISHOP, WESTERN WASHINGTON
Academics: Years at WWU: 4. GPA - 3.89. Second team CoSIDA Academic All-American. Named to CoSIDA All-America District VIII College Division Academic all-star team for third time ... GNAC Academic all-star for third year in a row ... Selected WWU Female Scholar Athlete-of-the-Year for third consecutive year ... Athletics: Second team American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American ... First team AVCA and Daktronics Pacific Region all-star .... Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player-of-the-Year for second straight season ... Ranked ninth nationally in assists (13.54), helping Vikings to a 24-2 record, their best in school history ... Reached semifinals of NCAA Division II Pacific Regionals ... Led team to third straight 18-0 conference record, running league winning streak to 54, fourth longest in NCAA Division II history ... Finished second among school leaders in assists (4,176) and ninth in digs (850) ... Four-year letter winner.
ROB WHITE, WESTERN WASHINGTON
Academics: Years at WWU: 3. GPA - 3.76. CoSIDA All-America District VIII College Division all-star ... Also named to GNAC Academic all-conference team. Selected WWU Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Athletics: First team GNAC all-star. . .Lead team in tackles (90) for second straight year ... Ranked 14th nationally in solo stops (6.1 per contest) and 69th in total tackles (9.0 per contest) ... Three-year letter winner ... Helped Vikings win GNAC title with 3-0 record.
