Posted by Press Democrat Staff Writer Michael Coit:
Sonoma State University landed two volleyball players on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII team.

Rikki Buckshnis and Lindsay Brown, both seniors, were named to the team made up of schools from NCAA Division II and III, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, and the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Buckshnis, a managerial economics major from Clackamas, Ore., becomes the first Seawolves athlete to earn the recognition for a third straight year. As one of seven student-athletes named to the All-District VIII first team, Buckshnis advances to the Academic All-America ballot.

The Seawolves’ leading blocker with 65 blocks this season, Buckshnis has a .338 hitting percentage to rank fifth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

Brown, from Napa, has a double major in sociology and Spanish. She was named to the All-District VIII second team. The Seawolves’ all-time leader in assists and service aces, Brown ranks fifth in the conference in assists per set — 10.30 — and second in aces per set — 0.44 this season.

Sonoma State is 20-6 overall, 14-6 in the CCAA, and completes regular season play with matches at UC San Diego on Friday and Cal State East Bay on Saturday.

The Seawolves rank 18th in the nation and third in the NCAA West Region. The top eight teams from each region make up the 64-team tournament.

The Sonoma State women hope to make their second consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament and third since 1991.