Framingham State Grad Nominated For NCAA Woman of the Year

FRAMINGHAM, MA—A Framingham State University graduate is one of 145 student athletes from around the country who has been nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year award.

Alycia Rackliffe '17 is a volleyball and basketball standout and was nominated for this award that recognizes a graduating female student-athlete for excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.

A total of 543 schools from all three NCAA divisions submitted nominees for the honor. From that pool, each athletic conference selects just one nominee, which narrowed the field of candidates to 145, said the press release. Rackliffe, who graduated from Framingham State in May with a degree in food science and chemistry, was selected to represent the entire Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC).

In September, the Woman of the Year selection committee will name the top 30 honorees, which will include 10 women from each division. All 30 will be honored during the annual NCAA banquet on October 22 in Indianapolis and the NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced during the event.

“Alycia will go down as one of the best athletes in Framingham State history,” says Framingham State President F. Javier Cevallos in a statement. “But it is her leadership skills, academic success and commitment to volunteerism that make her a truly exceptional student-athlete. We could not be more proud of her.”

Rackliffe earned multiple honorsin both women's basketball and volleyball during her four years at FSU, including being named the MASCAC Volleyball Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016, said the announcement. She was tabbed as both the MASCAC Volleyball and Women's Basketball Rookie of the Year after her freshman season in each sport in addition to being named the D3hoops.com Northeast Rookie of the Year after the 2013-14 season. After her senior season in each sport, Rackliffe, a four time All-MASCAC selection in volleyball and a three time All-MASCAC selection for women's basketball, participated in the NEVO Senior All-Star game as well as the NEWBA Senior All-Star game.

She was also named to the Dean's List every semester and landing on the President's List multiple times. As a two sport student-athlete, Rackliffe was named to the MASCAC All-Academic Team 11 times during her four years.

Rackliffe was also active in the communityduring her four years volunteering with the MetroWest Special Olympics. She coordinated the EPAL program with Framingham's Cameron Middle School in which FSU student-athletes served as EPALs to the middle school students. She also worked with Guiding Eyes for the Blind, fostering and training a German Shepard puppy that will eventually become a service dog.

Information via Framingham State University

Photo via Shutterstock