Birmingham, AL - University of Georgia student-athlete Kathleen Gates has been named to the 2009 Southeastern Conference Volleyball Community Service Team according to an announcement made by the league.

The SEC sponsors Community Service Teams for all 20 league sponsored sports. The community service team looks to highlight athletes from each school who gives back to their community in superior service efforts.

A sophomore setter from Wilmington, N.C., Gates was voted as the Bulldogs’ 2009 team captain and is a representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, a role in which she participated in the SEC Together We CAN Drive. She is also a member of the UGA Health Center John Fontaine, Jr., Center for Alcohol Awareness and Education Student Advisory Committee, where she works to promote alcohol awareness to fellow UGA students including at a pre-Halloween Tate Health event.

Gates is also a member of several other groups at Georgia including AutismUGA and the American Medical Student Association. As a member of AutismUGA, Gates has volunteered for several events, such as Real Saturdays and the Walk for Autism at Barnett Shoals Elementary, to raise money for the Autism Speaks organization. A proven leader, Gates was recently appointed to the position of Director of Autism Awareness on the Board of Directors for AutismUGA, a position she will take over in the spring semester. Gates has also found time in her schedule to make local hospital visits with UGAMIRACLE.

Additionally, Gates is a leader for Team United and an active member of Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Athens. With Team United, she attends a weekly bible study and weekly leadership meetings. Through her Church, Gates participated in the 2009 Relay for Life, and she spent her 2009 spring break on a mission trip to New Orleans to provide disaster relief and build homes for hurricane victims. Furthermore, Gates plans on using the upcoming 2010 spring break to go on another mission trip to Panama.

Gates was one of two underclassmen selected to the Seventh Annual Women’s Volleyball Community Service Team along with South Carolina redshirt freshman Olivia Ryder.

2009 SEC Volleyball Community Service Team:

Alyssa Meuth, Junior, Alabama

Lindsay Scanlan, Senior, Arkansas

Sara Shanks, Junior, Auburn

Kristina Johnson, Senior, Florida

Kathleen Gates, Sophomore, Georgia

BriAnne Sauer, Senior, Kentucky

Lauren DeGirolamo, Senior, LSU

Emily Kvitle, Junior, Ole Miss

Dorey Gray, Senior, Mississippi State

Olivia Ryder, Redshirt Freshman, South Carolina

Leah Hinkey, Junior, Tennessee