Massarelli named to CoSIDA Academic All-American First Team

TOWSON, Md. - Salisbury University senior Nicole Massarelli (Clarksville, Md.) exemplifies what it means to be a student-athlete, as the middle hitter was named to the 2009-10 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Women's Volleyball First Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Massarelli, whose major is mathematics, currently boasts a 3.97 GPA. Receiving accolades for academic achievement is nothing new to the senior, as she was named to the Capital Athletic Conference All-Academic Team in 2007 and '08. Her success in the classroom is equally as impressive as her success on the court, as Massarelli has posted 215 kills and 62 digs on the season. She also leads the team in total blocks, with 131.

To be eligible for CoSIDA Academic honors, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.

ESPN The Magazine - winner of the 2006 and 2003 National Magazine Award for General Excellence - is a provocative and innovative sports publication. Full of insight, analysis, impact and wit, the oversized biweekly with a circulation of 1.9 million looks ahead to give fans a unique perspective on the world of sports.