June 23, 2009

LAS VEGAS - UNLV softball had 12 student-athletes named to the 2009 Spring Academic All-Mountain West Conference Team, including nine repeat selections, the league announced today.

Five-time selection Brittany Meade led the team, which had the third-most selection in the program's history. Other repeat honorees included Brittany Bolinger, Stephanie Bregante, Laura Briones, Chey Farley, Kendall Fearn, Jaci Hull, Marissa Nichols and Ashli Holland.

Hull and Bolinger were tabbed to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-District Eight First Team, while Marissa Nichols took home second team honors.

Tara Bendt, Korin Cuico and Elena Fata rounded out the 12-member softball contingent, as the trio made the academic list for the first time.

UNLV had a total of 86 student-athletes earn Spring 2009 Academic All-Mountain West Conference honors, the league office announced today. UNLV had its best year academically with a total of 139 student-athletes receiving recognition for their efforts in the classroom, as 53 individuals were honored in the fall (45 in the MWC and eight in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation). The previous high was set only one year ago (2007-08), as 137 student-athletes were acknowledged for their academics.

In all, 772 student-athletes from the league's eight institutions were named to the academic team, which bests the previous high of 731, set twice before in the spring semesters of 2006 and 2008. To be eligible for selection, student-athletes must have completed at least one academic term at the member institution while maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better, and be a starter or significant contributor on their athletic team.

Student-Athlete          Year      GPA      MajorTara Bendt               JR        3.58     CommunicationsBrittany Bolinger        SR        3.75     Kinesiological StudiesStephanie Bregante       JR        3.33     University StudiesLaura Briones            JR        3.16     Kinesiological StudiesKorin Cuico              FR        3.71     Kinesiological StudiesChey Farley              JR        3.02     Kinesiological StudiesElena Fata               FR        3.11     UndeclaredKendall Fearn            JR        3.42     PsychologyJaci Hull                JR        3.56     Kinesiological StudiesBrittany Meade           SR        4.00     Sports Education LeadershipMarissa Nichols          JR        3.87     School CounselingAshli Holland            SO        3.16     Recreation