March 12, 2008

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State field hockey team has been recognized by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFCHA) as a program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. It is the second-straight year the Spartans has been recognized for this achievement, as last year they were ranked as one of the top five programs in the country. In addition, ten members of the team were honored for their individual achievements in the classroom, missing the 2006 school-best mark by one.

The National Academic Team Award recognizes those institutions that achieve a minimum combined GPA of 3.0 during the first semester of the 2007-08 academic year. The National Academic Squad program recognizes those collegiate student-athletes who have achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 through the first semester of the 2007-08 academic year.

Ten MSU players from the 2007 team were named to the National Academic Squad: Jeamie Deacon, Angie Lucik, Julie Mackay, Meghan Magee, Brittany Miller, Nicola Pitticas, Geraldine Raynor, Floor Rijpma, Gwen Riley and Elissa Unger. The Spartans joined athletes from 75 Division I programs who also received the honor.

Old Dominion University took top honors in 2007 with a team GPA of 3.68. Big Ten rival Indiana finished in a tie for second place with American University at 3.51, while the University of Maine (3.50), and Monmouth University (3.49) finished in fourth and fifth, respectively.