Three CCIW Softball Student-athletes named cosida academic all-americans

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Three College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) softball players were named to the 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Softball Team (College Division) as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Illinois Wesleyan's Molly Coers (Manito, Ill./Midwest Central) and Elmhurst's Beth Cann (Peotone, Ill./H.S.) were named to the first team, while Augustana's Samantha Knox (East Moline, Ill./United Township) was named to the second team.

Coers, a senior accounting major, accomplished a 3.92 grade point average and helped the Titans earn a conference title this season at shortstop. Coers batted .390 with two home runs and 15 RBI in 2007.

Cann, a junior nursing major, accomplished a 4.0 grade point average and led the Bluejays with a .404 batting average and 19 RBI.

Knox, a senior biology/pre-med. major, accomplished a 3.91 grade point average and was instrumental in helping Augustana win the conference tournament title at third base. Knox batted .348 with three home runs and 34 RBI this season.

CoSIDA selects Academic All-America teams in 12 programs: football, women's volleyball, men's soccer, women's soccer, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball, softball, men's track & field/cross country, women's track & field/cross country, men's at-large and women's at-large. A first team, second team and third team are selected in both the University (Division I and I-AA) and College (Division II, III and NAIA) Divisions. Football consists of just first and second teams.

To be eligible, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for his/her career. No athlete is eligible until he/she has reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at his/her current institution.

For more information on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America program, visit www.cosida.com.