CALIFORNIA (Dec. 12) – The California (PA) volleyball team featured four players receiving College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors on Tuesday afternoon.

Senior Emily Buwawa, junior Allie Droneberger, sophomore Elisa Rugiero and junior Rachel Simon earned laurels from the organization with Droneberger collecting the accolade for a consecutive year.

Buwawa appeared in all 91 sets over 23 matches this season and led the team with 366 digs. She holds a 3.57 grade-point average (GPA) while majoring in criminal justice with a concentration in forensic investigation and a minor in psychology

A native of Maryland, Droneberger started 23 matches and appeared in all 91 sets this year. She ranked second on the team with 224 kills and 263 points, plus finished third in digs. Droneberger boasts a 3.92 GPA while pursuing a degree in biology with a concentration in pre-dentistry and a minor in chemistry.

Rugiero also appeared in all 91 sets and made 23 starts this fall. She led the team with 273 kills and 324 points, plus ranked third in blocks, while earning All-PSAC West Second-Team honors for the second-straight year. Rugiero maintains a 3.87 GPA while majoring in marketing.

Simon appeared in 83 sets while starting 17 matches this season. She paced the team with 632 assists and 35 service aces. Simon holds a 3.68 GPA while pursuing a degree in health sciences.

To qualify for CSC Academic All-District honors, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically, maintain a cumulative 3.50 GPA and have played in 90 percent of the team's matches (previously 50 percent) or start 66 percent of the team's matches. Additionally, each institution is capped at four nominees in the sport of volleyball.

Note, starting in the 2023-24 academic year advancement from Academic All-District submission to the Academic All-America ballot will be determined by subcommittees of the CSC Academic All-America program (formerly CoSIDA). Rugiero was chosen as a CSC Academic All-America finalist and advances to the national ballot with the CSC Academic All-America Teams being announced next month.