Feb. 12, 2002

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Naval Academy graduate Lt. j.g. Katie (Bluemling) Sheldon has been named the 2001 Navy Female Athlete of the Year, it was announced recently by the Navy. She received the honor based in large part upon her successes in volleyball.

In May, Sheldon and the All-Navy Volleyball Team won the silver medal at the Armed Forces Tournament in Honolulu, Hawaii. Playing the newly-created position of libero, she was named to the all-tournament team and was selected to continue competing for the military as a member of the All-Armed Forces Team. In June, Sheldon and her new team placed second at the USAV National Championship in Milwaukee, Wis., -- the highest finish in the history of the tournament for the Armed Forces squad -- while becoming one of just seven players at the tournament to earn All-America accolades.

In September, Sheldon and the Armed Forces Team won the Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM) World Military Volleyball Championship in Viterbo, Italy. It was the first championship for the United States in 15 years.

In addition to her volleyball accomplishments last year, Sheldon completed the Seattle Marathon in a time of 4 hours, 5 minutes, had the highest PRT score aboard the USS Fife, and placed first in the Everett, Wash., grass volleyball tournament.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Sheldon is a 1999 graduate of the Academy. She was a four-year member of the volleyball team at Navy, earning three letters and a pair of N-Stars in her career. The captain of the Mids as a senior, she totaled 95 aces and 520 digs while playing the defensive specialist position. She was named to the Patriot League's Academic Honor Roll as a senior.

Sheldon is serving as a Staff Tactical Action Officer aboard the USS Fife (DD 991), based in Everett. She joins Diana (Farraday) Foster (Navy '87) as the only Academy volleyball players to earn this honor from the Navy. Sheldon will receive her award at the Pride of the Nation Ceremony, March 21-24 in Arlington, Va.

"With having coached Katie at Navy and then watching her play in Hawaii this past summer, I saw how she has the ability to control a match as a defensive player," said Naval Academy head coach Mike Schwob. "She always has been a great defensive player and a strong passer, and now with the libero in place she can be on the floor for almost every rotation, which is a big benefit to her team."