November 18, 2008

IRVING, Texas— A league-leading seven Kansas volleyball players have been named to the Academic All-Big 12 Volleyball Team, the league office announced. Karina Garlington, Melissa Grieb, Melissa Manda, Katie Martincich, Paige Mazour, Savannah Noyes and Natalie Uhart joined 41 other student-athletes on the conference’s academic team.

Martincich, a sports management/business marketing major who is making her second appearance on the Academic All-Big 12 First Team, and Mazour, a human biology major, were two of just five nominees honored with a 4.00 grade point average. It is Mazour’s first time earning the honor.

Garlington (3.61 GPA, sports management), Grieb (3.53 GPA, human biology) and Manda (3.85 GPA, psychology/pre-med) are also first time honorees as all three were named first team.

Noyes is a community health major with a 3.52 GPA and earns first team honors for the third straight year, while Uhart (3.01 GPA, Communications) was named to the second team for the second time in her career.

Nominated by each institution’s director of student-athlete support services and media relations offices, the volleyball academic all-league squad consisted of 40 first team members combined with eight on the second team. First team members have recorded a 3.20 or better GPA, while the second team are those with a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or in the two previous semesters and have participated in 60 percent of her team’s scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.