Jan. 20, 2017
DAVIS, Calif. - A total of 26 UC Davis student-athletes from five fall sports earned Big West Academic All-Conference accolades, the league office announced on Friday.
To be eligible for Big West All-Academic honors, student-athletes must hold a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher, complete one full year at the member institution prior to the year for which the award is bestowed, and compete in at least 50 percent of their team's contests for that year.
Aggie women's soccer claimed nine of the 57 honorees in that sport. Seniors Nicole Bouvia and Zuzu Romano each picked up their third such nods, while Rachel Ahr, Sydney Burger and Mandy McKeegan are also repeat awardees. Senior Andi Damian, senior Celina Minissian and sophomore Hailey Rittershofer are first-time selections.
The UC Davis women's volleyball team landed seven on the honor roll, including third-time scholar Aima Eichie. Senior Sophia Mar garnered her second nod in as many years of eligibility, while the sophomore group of Emily Allen, Malia Bolko, Anna Donald, Brianna Karsseboom and Lauren Jackson each made their first appearances on the All-Academic squad.
Six cross country runners – four from the women's side and two from the men's – earned such recognition. Overall, this is senior Clara MacLeod's fifth award, as she also has two spring Academic All-Conference awards from track & field season. Senior Brynna Thigpen, who won a spring award for track & field last June, nabs her first fall honor. Senior Hannah Kirkegaard is also a past winner in cross country while sophomore Megan MacGregor snared her first Big West award. On the men's side, junior Ryan Dimick and Jon Horvath each scored their first Academic All-Conference plaudit.
From men's soccer, senior Connor Willis-Hong made the conference honor roll for a third straight year, while juniors Miguel Acevedo, Matt Baringer and Noah Wilson each earned their second consecutive appearances.
In all, 193 student-athletes from the Big West Conference's nine member institutions made the All-Academic rolls, just slightly more than the 2015 (190) and 2014 (191) fall seasons.
2016 BIG WEST ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE - FALL SPORTS
UC Davis honorees only.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL (7)
Emily Allen (So., Exploratory)
Malia Bolko (So., Economics)
Anna Donald (So., Undeclared)
Aima Eichie (Sr., Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior)
Brianna Karsseboom (So., Undeclared)
Lauren Jackson (So., Psychology)
Sophia Mar (Sr., Design)
WOMEN'S SOCCER (9)
Rachel Ahr (Sr., Communication)
Nicole Bouvia (Sr., Human Development)
Sydney Burger (Jr., Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior)
Andi Damian (Sr., Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior)
Mandy McKeegan (Jr., Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior)
Celina Minissian (Sr., Human Development)
Hailey Rittershofer (So., Biomedical Engineering)
Zuzu Romano (Sr., Psychology)
Nicole Smolinski (Sr., Animal Science)
MEN'S SOCCER (4)
Miguel Acevedo (Jr., Managerial Economics)
Matt Baringer (Jr., Managerial Economics)
Connor Willis-Hong (Sr., Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior)
Noah Wilson (Jr., Religious Studies)
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY (4)
Hannah Kirkegaard (Sr., Biomedical Engineering)
Megan MacGregor (So., Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior)
Clara MacLeod (Sr., Environmental Policy, Analysis & Planning)
Brynna Thigpen (Sr., Psychology)
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY (2)
Ryan Dimick (Jr., Mechanical Engineering)
Jon Horvath (Sr., Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior)
