Pair of Spartans Earn Academic All-District Honors

TAMPA, Fla. - University of Tampa volleyball players Camila Saade and Melissa Vanderhall have been selected to the ESPN the Magazine Academic all-district team. Both players were named to the third team.

The award, which is selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), is chosen by regional Sports Information Directors as the first team in each of the eight districts advance for Academic All-American consideration.

Saade, a senior from San Juan, P.R., was honored for carrying a 3.84 GPA while majoring in biology. Vanderhall, a sophomore from Hempstead, N.Y., owns a 3.62 GPA as her major is allied health and physical therapy.

Both players are key contributors for the ninth-ranked Spartans, who are currently 22-4 and tied atop the Sunshine State Conference with a 9-3 league mark. Saade, the team's libero, leads the squad in digs (255) and service aces (45). Vanderhall is UT's leader in kills (312), solo blocks (14) and points (374.0) while ranking second in service aces (39).

Click here for the entire ESPN the Magazine academic all-district teams

College Division
FIRST TEAM
Camilla Pagnan, BARRY, Morro da Fomaca, Brazil, 3.9, International Business
Devon Woolard, LYNN, Delray Beach, Fla., 4.00, Business Administration
Elise Burke, FLORIDA SOUTHERN, Gainesville, Fla., 4.00, Mathematics
Chelsea Cancelliere, WINGATE, Richboro, Pa., 3.98, Sport Management
Jaime Hayes, ST. ANDREWS PRESBYTERIAN, Gulf Breeze, Fla., 3.95, Biology/Chemistry
Dani Huffman, EMORY, San Diego, Calif., 3.84, French
Rebecca Bloemer, WINGATE, Louisville, Ky., 4.00, Communication Studies
Stormi Gale, WINGATE, Richmond, Texas, 3.85, Biology

SECOND TEAM
Andrea Laza, NORTH CAROLINA-PEMBROKE, Cary, N.C., 3.89, Biology
Samara Ferreira, BARRY, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 3.9, Biology (pre-medecine)
Danielle Higginbotham, FLORIDA SOUTHERN, Tallahassee, Fla., 3.81, Business
Melissa Powers, CATAWBA, Bennett, N.C., 3.59, Elementary Education
Rebecca Leedom, VIRGINIA WESLEYAN, Virginia Beach, Va., 4.00, Recreation & Leisure Studies

THIRD TEAM
Lauren Evans, BARRY, Plano, Texas, 3.4, Cardiovascular Profussion
Camila Saade, TAMPA, San Juan, P.R., 3.84, Biology
Melissa Vanderhall, TAMPA, Hempstead, N.Y., 3.62, Allied Health/Physical Therapy
Jessica Lombardi, FRANCIS MARION, Massillon, Ohio, 3.78, Art Education
Allison Averitt, METHODIST, Laurinburg, N.C., 3.89, Athletic Training
Brianna Blakely, NEWBERRY, Houston, Texas, 3.94, Undeclared