ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – During her time at the College of Saint Benedict, Hunter Weiss put in the work to ensure that she was not only one of the best volleyball players in program history, but also one of the best students.
 
On the court, Weiss earned multiple All-American honors while leading the Bennies to the NCAA Elite 8 in 2019. In the classroom, she maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA her four years of college, and was recognized at the national level for her achievements on several occasions.
 
For her incredible success on the court and in the classroom – as well as her service to her community – Weiss is the CSB athletic department's 2020-21 Presidential Award winner. The award is given annually to a senior student-athlete who excels during her four years in academics, athletics and community service.
 
Weiss certainly made a name for herself with the Saint Benedict volleyball team. She earned a trio of All-MIAC First Team honors as well as two AVCA All-Central Region accolades and a pair of All-America First Team honors. As a junior in 2019, she was named both the MIAC Player of the Year and the AVCA Central Region Player of the Year after hitting nearly .400 and finishing the year as one of just three non-middle hitters ranked in the top 50 in Division III in hitting percentage.
 
Weiss reached the 1,000-kill milestone in 2019, and graduates eighth in CSB history with 1,235 kills along with 343 total blocks.
 
While her dominance on the court was impressive, her work in the classroom also received national attention. A biology major with a 4.0, Weiss was named the 2019 NCAA Elite 90 recipient for volleyball, and she also earned CoSIDA Academic First Team All-America honors. She is just the second Elite 90 recipient in any sport in CSB history, and the department's first First Team Academic All-American since 1999-00. She was a member of Saint Benedict's Dean's List each semester, and a two-time winner of the Dr. LuAnn Reif Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.
 
If that wasn't enough to keep her busy, Weiss also found ways to give back to the community. She served as a volunteer shopper for Help at Your Door during Summer 2020 to help find groceries and coordinate orders for those who were unable to shop due to the COVID19 pandemic, and also served as a kitchen volunteer for Meals on Wheels. Throughout her four seasons at CSB, Weiss served as a volleyball camp counselor during the summer months, teaching young players the basics of the sport, and she also worked with Special Olympics and, with her teammates, made blankets to donate to children in need.
 
After graduation, Weiss has accepted a position working for the FBI.
 
"It has been remarkable to see all that Hunter has accomplished in her four years here at Saint Benedict," CSB head volleyball coach Nicole Hess said. "Her work ethic, motivation, attention to detail, and positive personality allow her to be successful no matter what she decides to do. She is a leader on and off the court and respected amongst her peers.
 
"I'm hopeful for future generations of Bennies and volleyball players to follow Hunter's example as Hunter has spent her summers in the gym, working with young girls who aspire to be just like her."
 
"My time at Saint Ben's has helped me develop into a confident woman who is ready to take on the world around her," Weiss said when reflecting on her time at CSB. "As a student here, I felt appreciated and heard, which gave me the confidence to use my voice. For the first time I became confident in who I was as a student, and I think this helped me to reach my full potential.  As an athlete on the volleyball team, I felt support from my teammates and coaches, and I learned the value in this    and the successes that can come from it."