Marshall University Athletics
Stefancic and Dolabella Named Conference USA Scholar Athletes of the Year
8/11/2021 1:51:00 PM | Men's Soccer, Women's Tennis
First time honors for both players
DALLAS – Marshall University had two players named Conference USA Scholar Athletes of the Year as Liz Stefancic from tennis and Pedro Dolabella from men's soccer were honored for their respective sports, the league office announced Wednesday.
Â
Both players have been honored in the past for academic and athletic achievements, however this was this first time for each being named C-USA Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Â
The awards are voted on by the conference's 14 Faculty Athletics Representatives, and are presented to the top student-athletes in each conference sponsored sport. It is based on academic achievement (GPA), athletic achievement and service. Rice led the way with eight selections. Marshall along with Charlotte were the only other schools to have more than one. UTSA, UAB, WKU, Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee had one each.
Â
Stefancic finished her junior season in 2020-21 and sports a 3.95 overall GPA as a bio-chemistry major. The Aurora, Ill., native is a three-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll as well as a three-time recipient of the Academic Medal for maintaining a GPA of 3.75 or better. Prior to this past season, Stefancic and sophomore Jutte Van Hansewyck were ranked No. 30 in the ITA Division I Women's Preseason Top 60 Doubles. During the 2019-20 season, Stefancic and Van Hansewyck were named C-USA Doubles Player of the Week after defeating the No. 3 ranked tandem from Yale. Stefancic was also named All-Conference Doubles First Team by the end of the season and was honored on the ITA All-Academic Team and an ITA Scholar Athlete. As a freshman in 2018-19 she reached the first round of the ITA Atlantic Regional singles bracket after going through qualifiers and also reached the second round of the ITA Atlantic Regional doubles bracket.
Â
Dolabella was a senior in 2020-21 and will be returning for one more year due to the COVID season. The Brasilia, Brazil native finished his undergraduate degree in business with a 3.80 GPA and is working toward his MBA. Dolabella is a four-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and four-time recipient of the Academic Medal. At the end of the 2020-21 season, he was named a United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-Region selection for the second time. Dolabella has been an instrumental part of the men's soccer team's rise to being two-time C-USA Champions and 2020 National Champions. During Marshall's run through the NCAA Tournament, Dolabella played 473-of-484 minutes including all 97 minutes of the National Championship match against No. 3 Indiana. In his Herd career, he has played in 73 matches with 68 starts, logged 5,681 minutes on the pitch, scored 13 goals and has 10 assists. He scored the game-winning goal to give Marshall its first C-USA Tournament title in 2019.
Â
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
Â
Â
Both players have been honored in the past for academic and athletic achievements, however this was this first time for each being named C-USA Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Â
The awards are voted on by the conference's 14 Faculty Athletics Representatives, and are presented to the top student-athletes in each conference sponsored sport. It is based on academic achievement (GPA), athletic achievement and service. Rice led the way with eight selections. Marshall along with Charlotte were the only other schools to have more than one. UTSA, UAB, WKU, Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee had one each.
Â
Stefancic finished her junior season in 2020-21 and sports a 3.95 overall GPA as a bio-chemistry major. The Aurora, Ill., native is a three-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll as well as a three-time recipient of the Academic Medal for maintaining a GPA of 3.75 or better. Prior to this past season, Stefancic and sophomore Jutte Van Hansewyck were ranked No. 30 in the ITA Division I Women's Preseason Top 60 Doubles. During the 2019-20 season, Stefancic and Van Hansewyck were named C-USA Doubles Player of the Week after defeating the No. 3 ranked tandem from Yale. Stefancic was also named All-Conference Doubles First Team by the end of the season and was honored on the ITA All-Academic Team and an ITA Scholar Athlete. As a freshman in 2018-19 she reached the first round of the ITA Atlantic Regional singles bracket after going through qualifiers and also reached the second round of the ITA Atlantic Regional doubles bracket.
Â
Dolabella was a senior in 2020-21 and will be returning for one more year due to the COVID season. The Brasilia, Brazil native finished his undergraduate degree in business with a 3.80 GPA and is working toward his MBA. Dolabella is a four-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and four-time recipient of the Academic Medal. At the end of the 2020-21 season, he was named a United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-Region selection for the second time. Dolabella has been an instrumental part of the men's soccer team's rise to being two-time C-USA Champions and 2020 National Champions. During Marshall's run through the NCAA Tournament, Dolabella played 473-of-484 minutes including all 97 minutes of the National Championship match against No. 3 Indiana. In his Herd career, he has played in 73 matches with 68 starts, logged 5,681 minutes on the pitch, scored 13 goals and has 10 assists. He scored the game-winning goal to give Marshall its first C-USA Tournament title in 2019.
Â
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
Â
---HerdZone.com---
Players Mentioned
Men's Soccer: HC Chris Grassie, Kirill Pahkomov and David de la Vibora Postgame vs. Cleveland State
Saturday, November 22
Marshall Men's Soccer: 2025 Post-Selection Show Interviews
Monday, November 17
Marshall Men's Soccer: Round of 8 Postgame at SMU - HC Chris Grassie/Lineker Rodrigues dos Santos
Monday, December 09
Marshall Men's Soccer: vs. Furman Postgame - Chris Grassie/Lineker Rodrigues dos Santos
Monday, December 09