June 18, 2008

IRVINE, Calif. - Eighteen UC Davis student-athletes have earned 2007-08 Academic All-Big West Conference honors for the spring season, it was announced Wednesday by the conference office. The Aggies women's track and field team had the most student-athletes honored with eight while men's tennis had four, and softball, women's tennis and men's track and field each had two.

A total of 175 student-athletes earned the all-academic honors among the nine-team conference. To be eligible for such distinction, student-athletes must have maintained a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average or better, completed one full academic year at the member institution prior to the season (i.e. at least a sophomore academic standing), and competed in at least 50 percent of their team's contests.

Women's track and field had the most overall honorees as a total of 64 student-athletes earned distinction. From UC Davis, seniors Adina Farkash and Gretchen Haussler, juniors Kaitlin Gregg and Adriana Strack, and sophomores Angela Celentano, Tessa Fraser, Brianna Larson and Alison Stoakley earned honors. UC Irvine topped the list with 15 student-athletes.

The men's tennis team, which shared the UC Davis Lyle Leach team academic award with men's water polo, led all schools with four student-athletes honored. Seniors Henri Landes and Daniel Elefant, junior Michael Reiser and sophomore Kevin Liang represented the Aggies.

UC Davis had two student-athletes represented in softball, women's tennis and men's track and field. Junior Deanna Menapace and sophomore Jenny Corbett represented the Aggies in softball. Juniors Randi Schuler and Emma Shapiro represented UC Davis in women's tennis, while seniors K.C. Cody and Rob Olson were the two Aggies represented in men's track and field.

The 2007-08 season is the first academic year in which UC Davis is an official member of the Big West Conference.