INDIANAPOLIS - Appalachian State University volleyball player Lauren Gray has been nominated for the 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year award, as announced by the NCAA on Friday.

The Woman of the Year award honors graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academics, athletics, service and leadership.

Gray, a middle blocker from Round Rock, Texas, finished her four-year career at Appalachian as one of the school's most consistent hitters, possessing a career hitting percentage of .298 to rank fourth all-time in school history. During her senior season Gray was named second-team All-Sun Belt and NCCSIA All-State, while serving on the team's leadership council. 

In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Gray has maintained a 3.92 GPA and graduated this past spring with a degree in Public Relations. She has been an active participant in the Boone community, volunteering with programs such as Reading Across America, Relay for Life and the Special Olympics, along with the App State volleyball team. 

NCAA member colleges and universities have nominated 480 female student-athletes for the 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year award. Of the nominees, 207 competed in Division I, 93 competed in Division II and 180 competed in Division III athletics.

The Sun Belt Conference will assess each nominee's eligibility and select up to two conference nominees. All conference nominees are forwarded to the Woman of the Year selection committee, which chooses the top 30 honorees – 10 from each division.

From the top 30, the selection committee determines the top three nominees from each division and announces the top nine finalists in September. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics then chooses from among those nine to determine the 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year.

The 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year winner will be announced, and the Top 30 honorees celebrated, at the annual award ceremony on Oct. 18 in Indianapolis.