NIEVES NAMED TO C-USA ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM

@MTAthletics

IRVING, Texas - For the second year in a row, senior Samantha Nieves was named to the Conference USA All-Academic Team on Thursday, as announced by the conference office.

Nieves makes the list after earning a 3.77 GPA with a double major in animal and general science. The Covina, Calif., native is one of five players in the league to be a repeat honoree. She was also a recipient of the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal for the 2014-15 school year and was named a National Fastpitch  Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American Scholar athlete.

Off the field, Nieves led the team with 131 assists and ranked in third on the team with a career-high .338 batting average and a career-best 50 hits. Last weekend against WKU, she passed Brittany Banania (2008-11) to move into first all-time with 503 assists on defense.

"Samantha has been a tremendous student the last four years!" said head coach Jeff Breeden. "She has been able to maintain both a high level of play athletically and a great GPA. She is a role model of for what a student-athlete should be. This is a great honor for her, our program and the university"
 
 
2015 C-USA Softball All-Academic Team
*Lexi Betancourt, Charlotte, R-Jr., Garner, North Carolina, 3.89 GPA in Exercise Science
Natalie Capone, Charlotte, Sr., Charles, Illinois, 3.80 GPA in Psychology
*Corinne Jenkins, FIU, Jr., Sarasota, Florida, 3.67 GPA in Psychology and Sociology/Pre-Occupational Therapy
Morgan Zerkle, Marshall, Milton, West Virginia, 3.62 GPA in Exercise Science
*Samantha Nieves, Middle Tennessee, Sr., Covina, California, 3.77 GPA in Animal Science
Madison Thompson, North Texas, Sr., Sand Springs, Oklahoma, 3.87 GPA in Psychology and Biology
Karly Williams, North Texas, Jr., Castroville, Texas, 3.81 GPA in Chemistry/Biology and Mathematics
Danielle Block, Southern Miss, So., Phoenix, Arizona, 4.00 GPA in Biological Sciences
*Caitlin Attfield, UAB, Jr., Niagara Falls, New York, 3.43 GPA in Kinesiology-Exercise Science
JoJo Fallen, UAB, So., Prattville, Alabama, 3.74 GPA in Pre-Civil Engineering
Kacy Freeze, UTSA, Jr., Splendora, Texas, 3.80 GPA in Special Education
*Megan Low, UTSA, Sr., Spring, Texas, 3.58 GPA in Kinesiology
Preslie Cruce, WKU, Sr., Empire, Alabama, 3.73 GPA in Physical Education

* Repeat Honorees