July 23, 2008

Los Angeles, CA - The Loyola Marymount women's water polo team has been named one of the top-16 programs in the nationally academically by the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches, who released the 2008 Women's All-American Academic awards. The Lions finished with a 3.07 team GPA to claim team All-America Academic honors as eight players were also honored for their achievements in the classroom.

The Lions, who posted their eighth straight 20-win season in 2008, had four players earn "superior" or second-team All-America Academic honors. Lauren Barlow, Meghan Moore, Alissa Volosin and Alex Wike were all named to the second-team with GPAs between 3.41 and 3.70. Volosin and Wike both graduated this past May while Barlow and Moore will both be juniors in 2008-09.

Earning "excellent" or third-team All-America Academic honors were Stephanie Bours, Sheena Carter, Charis Ceniseroz and Sasha Fuller for earning a GPA between 3.20 and 3.40. Carter and Ceniseroz were part of the 2008 graduating class with Wike and Volosin while Bours and Fuller were freshman.

"The student-athletes on this list, representing many different institutions across the country, inspire the greater water polo community through their hard work and determination. As a sport, water polo maintains a reputation that is unequalled in toughness, and as a NCAA student-athlete, the academic standards are just as rigorous and demanding as the sport itself," said ACWPC Executive Director Bryan Kimball. "The choices that these students have made for a balanced athletic and academic career illustrate the definitive evidence that water polo players will remain near the top of the list for academic excellence in the NCAA for years to come."