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NAMPA, Idaho — Two-sport star and recent Northwest Nazarene graduate Taylor Van Valey earned a rare distinction this week as she was selected as one of two student-athletes to represent the Great Northwest Athletic Conference for the NCAA's Woman of the Year award.

Van Valey competed in volleyball and track and field for four years at NNU.

On the hardwood, the Brush Prairie, Wash., native recorded 539 kills and 225 blocks in her career as a right-side hitter for the Crusaders, helping lead NNU to the 2014 GNAC Championship and 2014 NCAA Division II National Tournament.

In indoor track and field she competed in the shot put and weight throw, and in outdoor track and field competed in the hammer throw, shot put and discus, five times earning All-GNAC honors and being named to the USTFCCCA West Region Team four times.

A USTFCCCA Academic All-American in track and field as well, Van Valey recently graduated with a degree in Social Work and a 3.49 cumulative GPA. The two-sport star was named to the GNAC All-Academic Team three straight years in both volleyball and track and field, as well.

Van Valey joins Saint Martin's golfer Jennifer Liedes in representing the GNAC for the award, and is one of 37 student-athletes nominated at the NCAA Division II level. In September, the NCAA will name 10 finalists at the D-II level from that group of 37 nominees, and in October will announce the NCAA Division II Woman of the Year for from that group.

The NCAA Woman of the Year program honors the academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service and leadership of graduating female college student-athletes from all three divisions.