HORNETS PLACE NINE ON 2011 NFCA ALL-AMERICA SCHOLAR ATHLETE LIST

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OCTOBER 10, 2011

COLLEGIATE SOFTBALL

“HORNETS PLACE NINE ON 2011 NFCA ALL-AMERICA SCHOLAR ATHLETE LIST”

Team ranked 37^th out of over 130 Division I teams

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) released their 2011 academic awards late last week and the Delaware State University softball team placed nine players on the All-America Scholar Athlete list while the team was 37^th overall out of over 130 Division I teams.

“Academics are why we are here,” stated DSU head coach Jeff Savage.  “Academic success really means a lot to us.  We’re proud of the support we’ve received from the academic services staff and the effort that the team puts into their education.”

The award is given to any player submitted by a member coach who achieved a 3.50 grade point average or higher during the 2010-11 academic year. 

Current players represented as All-America Scholar Athletes are senior Casey Beighley (Los Angeles, Calif.), sophomore Ashlyn Campbell (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.), Samantha Gross (Glasgow, Del.),  sophomore Stephanie Martello (Oxnard, Calif.), senior Leslie Pleasanton (Smyrna, Del.), and sophomore Stephanie Sarris (Rohnert Park, Calif.).  2010-11 graduating seniors that were named include Janelle Lukens, Sherelle Sheppard and Andrea Waters.

“This is a very impressive list and to be named amongst the best softball programs academically in the nation is truly an honor,” commented Eric Hart, DSU Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Academic Services.  “Our softball student-athletes are committed to excellence and it shows both on and off the field.  Delaware State University has consistently positioned itself to becoming one of the best Historically Black Colleges and University in America.  We are proud of our student-athletes and the effort they exhibit in the classroom.  We are pleased with the ranking of 37, but rest assured, we will be moving higher up in the chart in the 2011-12 academic year.”

Over 4,000 student-athletes representing 707 different academic institutions across the NCAA, NAIA, junior college and high school levels were named on the list.  This year’s total of 4,33 honorees bested last year’s total by over 30 student-athletes.

For a complete listing of 2010-11 All-Academic Teams and All-America Scholar Athletes, click here.

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