Oct. 23, 2009

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Friday, October 23, 2009) – Redhawks softball was recently selected among 108 NCAA Division I colleges and universities by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) to the organization's girls got game All-Academic Team for the 2008-09 academic year. The Redhawks tied for 23rd in the nation with a cumulative 3.35 grade point average and were one of six teams honored from the Ohio Valley Conference.

Southeast was one of four OVC member teams in the top 25 behind Tennessee Tech (4th-3.509 GPA), SIU Edwardsville (13th-3.420 GPA), and UT Martin (20th-3.375 GPA. Jacksonville State (35th-3.297 GPA) and Tennessee State (86th-3.103 GPA) rounded out the All-Academic Team selections from the OVC. Robert Morris University claimed the top spot in the nation with a 3.610 cumulative GPA.

This is the tenth-straight season the Redhawks has been selected as a NFCA All-Academic Team. This prestigious honor has been awarded by the NFCA to softball teams across the nation since its inception in 1996. The Redhawks has consistently made this list every year since 1999. The Redhawks' highest finish was second in 2002 and followed that with a third-place showing in 2003.

Eight Redhawks players were also honored for their academic achievements. Giana Zimmerman (Wheat Ridge/Westminster, Colo.), Nicole Troncoso (Boston College/Palmdale, Calif.), Shelby Stein (Columbia/Columbia, Ill.), Renee Kertz (Notre Dame/St. Louis, Mo.), Whitney Dupuis (Sulphur/Sulphur, La.), Tiffany Blanco (Paloma Valley/Canyon Lake, Calif.), Stefanie Barnes (James Logan/Union City, Calif.) and Sirena Watkins helped the Redhawks in their team award for their contributions in the classroom.

The award is given to the top ten winners in seven categories based on their cumulative grade point average's, submitted by NFCA member head coaches. Teams were honored in five difference collegiate divisions (NCAA Division I, II and II, NAIA and NJCAA) and two high school divisions (weighted and non-weighted).