Full Release

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Louisville, Ky. -- The Adelphi University softball team compiled a 3.757 GPA as a squad last academic year, to rank second overall in Division II by .05 percentage points, as announced in the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association's Easton Top 10 Academic Awards this week. In addition, 14 players earned NFCA Scholar Athlete Status for the 2015-16 academic year. They were Taylor Ludewig, Christina Palmenteri, Megan Lewis, Lauren Sandelier, Krista King, Fallon McCarthy, Stephanie Staiano, Nicoletta Cuccio, Lindsay Mapes, Kristin Fealy, Nicole Camera, Brenna Martini, Stephanie Barbaro and Jessica Vadala.

Newbury College (NCAA DIII) garnered the overall college GPA with a 3.770, while Byron Nelson (Texas) High School (4.916), for the third consecutive year, and Champion (Ohio) High School (3.858) led the high school weighted and unweighted categories, respecitively, in the NFCA's Top 10 Academic Team rankings for the 2015-16 school year. Individually 5,152 softball players earned Easton / NFCA Scholar-Athlete honors. 

The rankings and honors recognize the academic prowess of softball teams across seven membership divisions. NCAA Division I, with 1,240 honorees, had the most student-athletes with a 3.5 grade-point average or higher, while 1,124 in Division III earned recognition, followed by 963 Division II student-athletes. High School weighted and High School unweighted posted 618 and 512 honorees apiece. NAIA amassed 384 recipients and Junior College totaled 311.

Grand Canyon University (3.670) and Upper Iowa University led NCAA Division I & II, while Siena Heights University (3.720) posted the top NAIA mark and Allen Community College set the junior college standard with a 3.660 GPA.

NCAA Division II 
1. Upper Iowa – 3.764; 2. Adelphi – 3.757; 3. Bridgeport – 3.712; 4. Northern State – 3.680; 5. Lincoln Memorial – 3.660; 6. Wasburn – 3.650; 7. California (Pa.) – 3.640; 8. Drury – 3.604; 9. Arkansas Monticello – 3.583; 10. Georgia College – 3.563.

Portions of this release courtesy of the NFCA.

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About Adelphi Athletics:
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009 and in the past seven seasons, has collected 18 regular season conference titles, 22 tournament championships, 29 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup three times (2013, 2014, and 2016), while winning five NCAA Division II National Championships.

For the latest on Adelphi University Athletics, follow the Panthers at www.aupanthers.com or via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat.