Aug. 24, 2011

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The Association of Collegaite Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) announced on Tuesday its 2011 Women's All-Academic Awards, honoring both individuals and programs as a whole for their academic performance. LMU women's water polo was one of 31 programs earning team honors, while five Lions earned individual honors.

Sophomore Jessica Morelos, junior Kimberly Benedetti, senior Gina Castagnola, freshman Alexandra Honny, and junior Casey Flacks have all earned ACWPC All-Academic Honors for the 2011 season.

Morelos earned Outstanding Honors, Benedetti, Castagnola and Honny earned Superior Honors, and Flacks claimed Excellent honors. For Benedetti and Flacks, it is their third straight season earning ACWPC All-Academic honors. Morelos, who moved from Superior to Outstanding, and Castagnola each earned it in 2010.

The ACWPC annually honors student-athletes and collegiate water polo programs in both the men's and women's seasons for academic performance. The awards are given three Athlete Merit Levels - Outstanding Honors earning GPA between 3.71 and 4.00, Superior Honors earning a 3.41 to 3.70 GPA, and Excellent Honors for a GPA between 3.20 and 3.40.

To earn ACWPC Academic Honors a student-athlete must meet NCAA eligibility requirements, active participant competing in at least 50-percent of the games, must have a cumulative GPA over 3.2, must be a full-time student and they may be a freshman.