Michigan Tech middle blocker Paige Wagner celebrates a point with right-side hitter Rachel Zurek (18), defensive specialist Alayna Corwin, and setter Madelynn Kreider (8) during a match this season at the SDC Gym in Houghton. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

HOUGHTON — Michigan Tech Huskies sophomore middle blocker Paige Wagner was named to the 2025 Academic All-District Volleyball Team for her combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The award recognizes starters or key reserves in their sport who carry a 3.50 or above grade-point average and is selected by College Sports Communicators.

Wagner was named to the All-GLIAC Second Team for the second straight season. She played in all 103 sets in the 28 matches. She was second on the team with 198 kills and hit .289, which ranked ninth in the GLIAC.

Wagner majors in biochemistry and molecular biology and maintains a 4.0 grade-point average.

First-year coach Cindy Pindral praised Wagner for her efforts in all aspects of her life as a student athlete.

“Paige has worked her buns off this whole season,” said Pindral. “She gets extra reps a couple days of the week. She has to come into practice a little bit late due to class schedule, but she takes really quality reps. She is always ready to go.

“You are getting the same Paige every single day, so you know exactly what you’re going to get out of her. She wants to win.”

She added 93 blocks, 68 digs, and 26 aces and ranked 10th in the GLIAC in blocks per set (0.9). Wagner had double-digit kills six times with a season-best 13 against Davenport (Nov. 7) and Saginaw Valley State (Nov. 14). She had eight blocks against Grand Valley State (Oct. 25) and 10 digs for a double-double against the Panthers.

Pindral loved how hard Wagner worked this season to be more of an on-court leader.

“She’s probably one of the nicest people off the court that you’ll ever meet,” Pindral said. “But on the court, we’re trying to get work on her having a little bit more of an in-game persona where she doesn’t need to be so nice. She can be a gamer.
”She’s definitely learning how to use her voice in the manner of, ‘Give me the ball again,’and not (worrying about) offending anybody, or anything like that,” said Pindral. “Use your big girl voice and be like, ‘Give me the ball,’ or ‘I can do this.'”

Wagner also proved this season that she can be extremely helpful defensively as well.

“We were going through some team stats, and we were actually converting 60% of the time when Paige digs,” Pindral said. “She’s one of the middles that can serve. When she’s serving and playing defense, 60% of the time when she digs, then we got a point, which is an astronomical number. The girls were all joking, she’s our second libero in a sense, so that’s fun.

“She’s really growing into her own.”

About the CSC Academic All-America programs

The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2025-26 Divisions II and III Academic All-America programs.

For more information about CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-AmericaB