INDIANAPOLIS – 2014 University of Northwestern-St. Paul graduate and four-year standout volleyball student-athlete Krista (Stoltz) Bellefeuille has been selected as one of the top 30 honorees for the 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year award. Bellefeuille, who was one of 446 nominees nationwide, is one of 10 women from Division III who are up for the annual honor that recognizes the athletics, academic and community service achievements of outstanding young women.

Click here to read the NCAA Woman of the Year Top 30 announcement.
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In late September, three finalists from each division will be selected to form the nine finalists for the award.  The 2014 Woman of the Year will be announced at an annual ceremony in Indianapolis Oct. 19.

"These women are perfect examples of NCAA student-athletes succeeding on the field, in the classroom and in life," said Gloria Nevarez, NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee chair and senior associate commissioner for the Pac-12 Conference. "We are impressed by their outstanding achievements, and no matter the paths they take after college, we are confident that they will continue to lead their peers for many years to come."

Bellefeuille was chosen as the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Woman of the Year selection in June. A four-year member of the Eagles volleyball squad that advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of her years, Bellefeuille was named to the UMAC All-Conference First Team three times, earning Player of the Year honors in 2013.

Bellefeuille wrapped up her career ranked first in the NCAA Division III for assists in a set among active players and became only the second setter in Northwestern history to eclipse the 4,000 assists mark for her career. She holds the school record for assists in a season (1,434) and is second in the program for assists in a career (4,388). Bellefeuille, who helped lead the Eagles to the NCAA Tournament in each of her four years, was both an AVCA/NCAA All-American and a CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-American, maintaining a 3.96 grade point average in the classroom. Stoltz was one of three recipients of the 2014 UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award.

Throughout her collegiate career, Bellefeuille was also active in community service, contributing a significant amount of time to non-profit work and in school classrooms outside of her academic requirements at Northwestern. Organizations such as the Salvation Army, Christmas with Dignity and Urban Strategies have benefitted from Bellefeuille's volunteer work, as have numerous schools and her church. Over the course of four years, Stoltz logged more than 600 hours of volunteer service.

"I have learned the incredible benefit of extending unconditional love, authentically investing in lives, and building lifelong friendships that will support and encourage," Bellefeuille said after earning the UMAC's nomination. She continued, "I believe the opportunities I was involved in as a scholar, athlete, and leader have shaped me into a woman of character. Giving back time, energy, and resources has shaped the way I live as a servant leader. There is more joy in giving than receiving, and I have been changed from the connections I have made with those who have touched my life in various ways."

Since graduating in May, Bellefeuille has started teaching full time at New Life Academy in Woodbury, Minn. She also assists with New Life's volleyball team while being the head coach of the Eagles' junior varsity squad.