May 14, 2002
LAS VEGAS - UNLV softball players Nicole Truax and Bridget Byrne both have been selected to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-District VIII team, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced Tuesday.
Chosen by a voting panel of CoSIDA members, both Rebels claimed second-team honors after impressive seasons both on the field and in the classroom.
Truax, a senior pitcher from Henderson, earned a perfect 4.0 last semester to lift her cumulative GPA to 3.82. The three-time Academic All-Mountain West Conference player will graduate with her bachelor's degree in communications in December of 2002. She was a key member of the Rebels' pitching staff this season, throwing two shutouts and helping the squad to a 30-34 overall record.
Byrne, one of just three sophomores selected to the team, started all 63 games in left field for the Rebels. She led the team in at bats, sacrifices and stolen bases while hitting .235 as a leadoff batter. Although she has not yet declared a major, the Las Vegas native turned in a 4.0 GPA last fall and carries a 3.93 cumulative mark.
The duo joins nine other players named to the district's second team. The 10 first-team selections advance to the Academic All-America national ballot.
2002 Verizon Academic All-District VIII SoftballFirst TeamCindy Ball, Sr., P, Pacific, 3.39, Sports MedicineErica Beach, Sr., P, Arizona State, 3.27, BroadcastingCourtney Scott, Jr., C, California, 3.20, American StudiesSarah Beeson, Sr., IF, Stanford, 3.70, Human BiologyKara Brun, Jr., IF, Arizona State, 3.42, CommunicationsLindsay Fossati, Sr., IF, Fresno State, 3.91, KinesiologyKate Judd, Jr., IF, Hawaii, 3.22, Health EducationStacie Hirano, Sr., OF, Hawaii, 3.65, BusinessMolly McLean, Sr., OF, Utah, 3.48, Behavioral ScienceTiffany Whipple, Sr., OF, Fresno State, 3.64, Liberal Studies
Second TeamMegan Herscher, Jr., P, Portland State, 3.90, HistoryNicole Truax, Sr., P, UNLV, 3.82, CommunicationsBreanne Smith, Sr., C, Utah State, 3.86, Family/Human DevelopmentMeghan Cunningham, Sr., IF, Sacramento State, 3.74, KinesiologyAlyssa Laux, Jr., IF, Oregon, 3.35, PsychologyMelissa Stahnke, So, IF, Utah, 3.52, UndeclaredRobin Walker, Sr., IF, Stanford, 3.20, Political ScienceBridget Byrne, So, OF, UNLV, 3.93, UndeclaredChristy Cerecedes, Sr., OF, Loyola Marymount, 3.23, CommunicationsSondra Milchiker, So., OF, Cal State Northridge, 3.55, UndeclaredEstee Okumura, Jr., OF, Pacific, 3.36, Sports Sciences
