June 19, 2008

LAS VEGAS -

2008 UNLV Spring Academic All-Conference List

UNLV had a total of 88 student-athletes earn Spring 2008 Academic All-Mountain West Conference honors, the league office announced today. Eleven of those 88 honorees belonged to the Rebel softball team. Brittany Bolinger, Stephanie Bregante, Laura Briones, Jessica DeMatteo, Cheynah Farley, Jaci Hull, Brittany Meade, Traci Odegard, Rosa Ordaz, Caitlyn Paus and Ashli Holland were recognized for their achievements in the classroom.

UNLV's 88 representatives were the second most in the institution's history for this time frame. In all, UNLV had its best year academically with a total of 137 student-athletes receiving recognition for their efforts in the classroom, as 49 individuals were honored in the fall (43 in the MWC and six in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation).

To be eligible for selection to the Academic All-MWC team, student-athletes must have completed at least one academic term at the school while maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and be a starter or significant contributor on their team.

UNLV's baseball, softball and men's tennis teams were top performers in the classroom, as all three programs led the way with the most selections in their respective sports. Baseball and men's tennis set new benchmarks for their programs, as they registered 18 and seven honorees, respectively.

The women's swimming and diving team brought in the second-most selections with 14, while the men's swimming and diving team tied softball in third with 11. Seven members from women's track and field were selected, six from women's tennis (a new program high), five from women's basketball, four each from men's and women's golf, and one from men's basketball.

Softball (11)Bolinger, Brittany    Junior  3.68    Kinesiological SciencesBregante, Stephanie  Sophomore   3.26    UndeclaredBriones, Laura    Sophomore   3.10    Kinesiological SciencesDeMatteo, Jessica  Junior  3.06    University StudiesFarley, Cheynah  Sophomore   3.41    Kinesiological StudiesHull, Jaci    Junior  3.39    Kinesiological StudiesMeade, Brittany  Junior  3.32    Kinesiological StudiesOdegard, Traci    Freshman    3.24    Secondary EducationOrdaz, Rosa  Senior  3.20    SociologyPaus, Caitlyn  Senior  3.55    Kinesiological SciencesWidener-Holland, Ashli  Freshman    3.26    Biology