By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A storied season that featured a slew of stellar honors will officially conclude with the last of the year's accolades for Tennessee Tech soccer's Yao Giada Zhou.

Having already secured OVC Midfielder of the Year and All-South Region team distinctions, the Golden Eagle senior added to her 2023 campaign resume with a pair of largely academic-based honors. Giada Zhou was named to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American second team as well as reserving a spot on the Scholar All-South Region second team.

The San Michele al Tagliamento, Italy native's spot on the Scholar All-South Region second team marks the second-consecutive season in which she has been on that prestigious squad, while Giada Zhou's Scholar All-American accolade puts her in rarified air as the first Golden Eagle in program history to take home the coveted honor.

A six-time honoree of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll, a three-time member of the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll and a three-time recipient of the OVC Medal of Honor, Giada Zhou was recently recognized with the OVC Scholar Athlete Award, one of just three women student-athletes across the conference to claim the top-tier accolade.

On the pitch, the senior midfielder helped push the purple and gold to its second-straight OVC regular-season championship behind a campaign that saw her pace the conference in goals with seven and points with 20. Giada Zhou finished second in the league in assists with six helpers.

The sturdy stat sheet led her to being named the Ohio Valley Conference Midfielder of the Year for the second-straight season to go along with a spot on the All-OVC first-team for the second-straight year as well.

Photo by Jim Dillon