Oct. 27, 2014

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Overland Park, Kan. - Illinois opposite hitter Liz McMahon was selected as one of 10 Senior CLASS Award finalists nationally, recognizing NCAA women's volleyball student-athletes who excel both on and off the court. The finalists were chosen by a media committee from the list of 30 candidates announced in September. The 2014 Senior CLASS Award winner will be determined by a combination of Division I head coaches, media and fan voting and will be announced during the 2014 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship in December. Fans may vote up to once a day until voting closes on Dec. 8. Click here to vote or visit the Senior CLASS Award Facebook page.

McMahon is the second Illini to be considered as a finalist since the volleyball award's inception in 2010, following Laura DeBruler's selection in its inaugural season. Despite suffering a career-ending injury, DeBruler went on to earn a First-Team selection, finishing in the top five in the national voting.

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

McMahon is midway her best season yet, totaling 251 kills (3.26 per set) and 73 blocks, while ranking in the top 10 in the Big Ten in both kills and points on the season. The Liberty Township, Ohio, native kicked off the year by earning MVP honors at the Illini Classic and a subsequent Big Ten Player of the Week nod after leading the home tournament with a .426 hitting percentage with 24 kill and 10 blocks in straight-set wins over Long Beach State, North Carolina and Southern Illinois. She continued her strong play throughout tournament season, being named to all four all-tournament teams, while registering seven double-digit kill matches over the first 11 matches.

McMahon stepped her game up entering Big Ten play, as she averages 3.32 kills and 1.00 blocks per set in conference matches, ranking eighth in the conference in points. After totaling just five kills in the Big Ten opener against Maryland, the opposite hitter recorded at least 10 kills in the nine Big Ten matches that followed, including hitting .310 with 19 kills in the Illini's sweep of No. 18 Minnesota and posting a .556 clip with 11 kills against Indiana.

McMahon was one of just two Big Ten student-athletes to appear on the original candidates list, as both she and Michigan State libero Kori Moster moved on to the top 10. McMahon has faced several other finalists on the list during her career, including North Carolina opposite hitter Chaniel Nelson, Florida State libero Katie Mosher and Texas outside hitter Haley Eckerman.

Classroom

Heading into her senior year, McMahon holds a 3.85 GPA. She has been named to the Dean's List three times. She was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, which is an honorary scholastic fraternity for student-athletes with a cumulative GPA of 3.70 or higher. She is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, as well as earning two consecutive Big Ten Distinguished Scholar awards.

Character

Liz McMahon has been a leader from the minute she walked on campus. At first, she led through example in the way she carried herself day to day. Liz is a person who lives by principles that are beyond any standard a coach can set and she does not deviate from those principles. The principles through observation would be honesty, integrity, selflessness and hard work. Liz has stayed true to those principles but has developed as a vocal leader within the program and the athletic department. She is never afraid to speak her mind or give her opinion about anything on campus. She will stand up for those who she feels are being slighted in some way. Liz will help share perspective with others when that is what is required. Liz will stand up against everyone with her ideas in a meeting not to be a contrarian but because she believes strongly in what she believes. Liz openly talks about how she does not care about personal recognition and only wants the team to win. If she were nominated for this award, she would be humbled by the award and respect it and but she would be uncomfortable with it and never let it define her. Liz is every coach's dream and embodies "student-athlete".

Community

Liz has been actively involved in the Hometown Heroes program throughout her career, making numerous visits to the two local elementary schools that the team has adopted, Westview Elementary and South Side Elementary. She has also been involved in events with North Ward Elementary School, Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club, Leal Elementary School Children's Day, the Walk to School event at Kenwood Elementary, Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, Kids Breakfast, DIA Student-Athletes Thank-A-Thon, and Jock Jams, a student-athlete organized charity event that has raised more $70,000 over the past four years.

Competition

An AVCA All-Northeast Region and All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2013, McMahon posted 391 kills and 100 blocks as a junior. She finished 2013 ranked 21st in the nation among active players in her class in career kills. McMahon put up a team season-best 23 kills, including the final four of the match, to lead Illinois past Arizona State in a close five-set match on Sept. 13, 2013, and then hit over .400 with 27 total kills in the first and second rounds of the 2013 NCAA Tournament.

Named All-Big Ten in 2012, McMahon notched 400 kills and 97 blocks, including posting 11 blocks at eventual national champion then-No. 6 Texas to lead Illinois to a key upset. She registered at least 15 kills in 14 of the final 17 matches of the season.

McMahon began her career with a Big Ten All-Freshman selection in 2011 and was named to the Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge All-Tournament team. She was influential in the team's run to the 2011 NCAA title match, totaling 47 kills and 25 blocks in six NCAA Tournament matches, including hitting .333 with 10 kills and six blocks vs. No. 1 USC in the national semifinal.