Liz McMahon

Classroom

Heading into her senior year, McMahon holds a 3.85 GPA. She has been named to the Dean’s List three times. She was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, which is an honorary scholastic fraternity for student-athletes with a cumulative GPA of 3.70 or higher. She is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, as well as earning two consecutive Big Ten Distinguished Scholar awards.

Character

Liz McMahon has been a leader from the minute she walked on campus.  At first, she led through example in the way she carried herself day to day.  Liz is a person who lives by principles that are beyond any standard a coach can set and she does not deviate from those principles.  The principles through observation would be honesty, integrity, selflessness and hard work.
Liz has stayed true to those principles but has developed as a vocal leader within the program and the athletic department.  She is never afraid to speak her mind or give her opinion about anything on campus.  She will stand up for those who she feels are being slighted in some way.  Liz will help share perspective with others when that is what is required.  Liz will stand up against everyone with her ideas in a meeting not to be a contrarian but because she believes strongly in what she believes.
Liz openly talks about how she does not care about personal recognition and only wants the team to win.  If she were nominated for this award, she would be humbled by the award and respect it and but she would be uncomfortable with it and never let it define her.  Liz is every coach’s dream and embodies student-athlete.

Community

Liz has been actively involved in the Hometown Heroes program throughout her career, making numerous visits to the two local elementary schools that the team has adopted, Westview Elementary and South Side Elementary. She has also been involved in events with North Ward Elementary School, Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club, Leal Elementary School Children’s Day, Walk to School event at Kenwood Elementary, Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, Kids Breakfast, DIA Student-Athletes Thank-A-Thon, and Jock Jams, a student-athlete organized charity event that has raised more $70,000 over the past four years.

Competition

During her senior season, McMahon earned All-Northeast Region and AVCA All-America Honorable Mention honors while compiling 396 kills, 110 blocks and 456 points. She was named to all four all-tournament teams during preconference play, including MVP of the Illini Classic.