TALLAHASSEE, Fla, — Three members of the 2023 NCAA Semifinalist Florida State Beach Volleyball Team – Maddie Anderson, Paige Kalkhoff, and Anna Long – have been named to the Academic All-District team by the College Sports Communicators. Anderson, Kalkhoff and Long led the Seminoles to a 32-9 record, the No. 4 seed in the NCAA Championship, and the No. 2 seed in the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association Championships during the 2023 season.
“I’m so proud of these athletes, along with our entire team for the hard work, energy, and effort they all put into their academic success,” said Head Coach Brooke Niles. “These three players specifically are leaders on the court and in the classroom. What they do as student-athletes is extremely difficult. This is an amazing recognition that they deserve.”
Anderson, a redshirt junior from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., holds a 3.747 grade point average as a finance major. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State at the conclusion of the spring 2023 semester and is a three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll Honoree. She has earned FSU Academic Dean’s List honors through her career, and was named to the CCSA All-Academic team in 2022 and 2023.
“This award is quite an honor,” said Anderson. “It’s always a grind trying to balance being a student and being an athlete, but I’ve learned throughout my four years at Florida State that being a student comes first. Having all my ducks in line academically gave me the headspace to excel in my sport.”
Anderson completed her undergraduate degree in finance and business analytics, but will return to Florida State this fall to finish out her eligibility and earn her MBA.
Anderson was named a First-Team All-American for the second time this past season and is a three-time All-American (First-Team in 2022 and 2023 and Second-Team in 2021) as a Seminole. She is also a two-time CCSA All-Tournament-Team selection (2021 and 2022) and was the MVP of the CCSA Tournament in 2021. Anderson is tied for eighth all-time at Florida State with 104 wins, and is one of 11 players in school history with 100 or more victories.
“My parents are a huge reason why I value my degree just as much as I value my sport,” said Anderson. “My dad graduated from Minnesota with a degree in aeronautical engineering, while my mom graduated from Northwestern with a PHD as a dual sport athlete. With that being said, they are successful parents to live up to but have supported me immensely throughout.”
Kalkhoff, a junior from Cincinnati, Ohio, has a perfect 4.0 GPA and was named as the CSA Scholar Athlete of the Year, as well as to the CCSA Al-Academic team in 2023. Academically the public health major was named to the FSU Academic President’s List as she earned a perfect 4.0 GPA during the spring of 2023 – the Seminoles’ main competitive season.
Kalkhoff earned All-American First-Team honors for the first time in her career from the American Volleyball Coaches Association in 2023. She was a Second-Team All-American at FIU in 2022. Kalkhoff played much of the 2023 season as the No. 1 doubles team with Anderson for the Seminoles. The pair earned 24 wins – a total that is tied for the 19th highest victory total by a tandem in school history.
“Representing Florida State as a student athlete is a dream come true,” said Kalkhoff. “My teammates and coaches challenge me on the court, but they also encourage me to excel in the classroom. Our academic staff is also nothing short of excellent, and they continually mentor me so that I can reach my potential as a student. Florida State has given me the tools to be successful in life once my collegiate career comes to an end.”
Long, a sophomore from Lakeside Park, Ky., has earned a 3.538 grade point average in Media and Communication Studies in her first two years at Florida State. She was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2022.
Long was named to the CCSA All-Freshman team in 2022 and was named as the CCSA Duo of the Week on April 5, 2023. She teamed with graduate student Jordan Polo for 22 wins during the 2023 season – a win total that that is tied for the 22nd highest single season victory total in school history. Long and Polo have combined for 30 win in the last two seasons – the 12th highest victory total by a duo in school history.
“I’m extremely happy to have been named to the all district academic team,” said Long. “At the beginning of the year, I set a goal for myself to work harder in school and to bring my GPA up, and that’s exactly what I did. I put a lot of time and energy into my academics and made it a main priority (next to beach volleyball, of course). That being said, it just feels super rewarding because of how committed I stayed to my goal. Now more than ever, I understand the importance of my academics and how being a good student helps prepare you for your future.”
Florida State has been ranked in the top-five of the AVCA/Dig Rankings in six of the last seven seasons, and played in the national championship finals four times since 2014.
