Feb. 20, 2009

ACC Release

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Three University of Maryland volleyball players were named to the Atlantic Coast Conference Volleyball All-Academic Team, the league announced Friday.

Sophomore right side Brittney Grove (communications), sophomore libero Bethany Springer (mechanical engineering) and freshman setter Sharon Strizak (kinesiology) were all honored by the conference for their academic achievements. It was the second straight season that three Maryland volleyball players were named to the team as Beth Gillming, Mary Beth Brown and Maggie Schmelzle earned the honor in 2007.

To be eligible for consideration, a student-athlete must have achieved a 3.0 or better GPA in the previous semester and must also possess a cumulative GPA better than 3.0. Although the award is primarily an academic one, on-court performance is also considered.

Grove was one of the more versatile players for the Terps last season, finishing with 142 kills, 242 digs and 32 blocks. Springer finished with a team-high 400 digs as the team's primary libero. Strizak played both right side and setter as a true freshman last season and led the team with 489 assists while also posting 28 blocks and 117 digs.

Wake Forest's Natalie Mullikan was named the league's scholar athlete for volleyball. Florida State led the conference with five all-academic selections.

-TERPS-