NEWARK, DE -- University of Delaware junior outside hitter Colleen Walsh (at right) has been selected to the ESPN The Magazine/College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) District 2 All-Academic second team for volleyball.

Walsh, a economics and finance major from Cleveland, OH, was among 12 players selected to the first and second teams based on their academic and athletic accomplishments. The voting was conducted by sports information directors at member schools. All first team selections are now eligible for the Academic All-American team, which will be announced later in November.

To be eligible for the team, student-athletes must carry a 3.2 or better grade point index on a 4.0 scale, have at least sophomore eligibility, and be a starter or key reserve for their team. District 2 includes all NCAA Division I schools in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, and Washington, DC.

Walsh, who earlier this year was named to the All-Colonial Athletic Association second team squad, led the Blue Hens to an impressive 2006 campaign as Delaware posted a record of 21-9 overall and placed fifth in the CAA standings with an 11-7 mark. Delaware advanced to the CAA quarterfinals and posted a first-round win over Northeastern before falling to eventual champion and host Hofstra 3-2 in the semifinals.

Walsh, who also earned second team All-CAA honors a year ago, was among the top hitters in the CAA this fall. She led the league in kills per game with 4.77 and ranked eight in hitting percentage with a mark of .290. In addition, she ranked second in the league in points with 5.04 per game and also had four service aces, 46 blocks, and 85 digs (0.73 per game).

She became just the 11th player in UD history to reach 1,000 career kills this season and currently ranks fourth all-time with 1,292. Her 558 kills were the second highest single season total in UD history and she also recorded the second highest single game kill mark in UD history with 32 vs. William & Mary late in the season.

AGATE:

ESPN The Magazine/College Sports Information Directors of American District 2 Volleyball All-Academic 1st team:
Rachel Dougherty (Navy), Christin Bimberg (Marshall), Amanda Grossmann (Bucknell), Adrian Semrau (Villanova), Kailee Goold (West Virginia), Lisa Jaszka (Robert Morris).

2nd Team: Jennifer Wylie (UMBC), Janette Schneider (Robert Morris), Melissa Walbridge (Penn State), Christina Grempler (Towson), Colleen Walsh (Delaware), Anne Roosevelt (St. Francis, PA).