AUSTIN, Texas – Thiel College senior middle blocker Raquel McDonald (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Grimes) was named to the 2022 Academic All-America Volleyball Second Team Wednesday, as selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC).
 
A triple major in criminal justice studies, sociology and psychology, McDonald owns a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average. She was a two-time Academic All-District First Team selection (2022, 2021).
 
McDonald was a three-time All-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) selection, including first team accolades in 2022. She was also a member of the PAC All-Tournament Team and ranked second in the conference in hitting percentage (.289) in 2022.
 
A six-semester Dean's List student, McDonald is on pace to receive the Dean's Key at graduation. She has qualified for the PAC Academic Honor Roll three times. McDonald is a member of Thiel's Dietrich Honors Institute and was named a Student of the Month in March of 2022.
 
McDonald is a member of the following honors societies: Lambda Sigma Rho, Alpha Kappa Delta, Psi Chi, Chi Alpha Sigma, Alpha Chi and the National Society of Leadership and Success. She is the first Thiel student-athlete to earn Academic All-America honors since Courtney Grubbs garnered third team accolades in 2021.
 
McDonald helped the Tomcats make three PAC Championship Tournament appearances during her career. This fall, Thiel was the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament for the first time in program history.