PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- After picking up her second straight All-BIG EAST accolade a few weeks ago, sophomore outside hitter Abby Harrell was selected to the 2024 PhillySIDA Academic All-Area team on Thursday. 

Harrell became just the seventh Wildcat ever and the first since 2019 to receive mention on the team and is the lone sophomore on the 10-player list. 

The team is voted on by the sports information offices of 30 institutions within the Philadelphia metropolitan area, and nominated student-athletes must be in their second year at their current school with at least a 3.30 GPA.

Harrell paced the 'Cats in kills and aces in 2024, adding 244 digs and 47 total blocks while starting in all but one set on the season. The 5-foot-10 outside hitter led Villanova in kills 21 times, contributing a team-best eight double-doubles on the year with 19 double-digit performances to lead all Wildcats. The Washington native followed up VU's third ever BIG EAST Freshman of the Year campaign with another all-conference campaign, picking up a pair of BIG EAST Honor Roll honors along the way.