NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - University of Dayton volleyball's Maura Collins has been nominated as a NCAA Woman of the Year candidate. The Atlantic 10 Conference announced the nominations for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award from the league institutions on Thursday.

Atlantic 10 Conference member institutions have nominated 14 outstanding female student-athletes for the prestigious national award. The 14 institutional nominees have been recognized for their exceptional academic prowess and notable athletic success as well as their leadership and service to their community. The candidates have noteworthy credentials, garnering national and A-10 academic honors, All-Conference awards, and postseason championship participation. A complete list of the nominees, their sport, hometown and academic studies are included below. A full profile of each candidate will be shared on Atlantic10.com beginning Friday, July 15.

Collins, a 2022 Dayton graduate, was named the 2021 A-10 Co-Libero of the Year and to the A-10 All-Conference Second Team. The three-time member of the A-10 All-Academic Team and A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll was also named to the 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District 5 Second Team. Collins led the team in digs for three-consecutive seasons and finished her career as a Flyer ranked sixth in program history with 1,411 digs. She also earned UD athletic department's Award of Excellence for Achievement in Academic and Athletic Effort in women's basketball or volleyball following her senior year. In 2021, Collins helped lead the Flyers to their fourth-straight A-10 Championship title and second-consecutive appearance in the second round of the NCAA Championship tournament.

The league's Senior Woman Administrators vote on the nominees to select two the student-athletes who will represent the Atlantic 10 Conference as 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year conference finalists.

One of the most prestigious NCAA awards, the Woman of the Year Award was established in 1991 to celebrate the achievements of women in intercollegiate athletics. Now in its 32nd year, the NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female college athletes who have distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.