University of North Carolina Athletics
Six Tar Heels Earn All-ACC Academic Accolades
June 29, 2010 | Softball
June 29, 2010
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The 2010 All-ACC Academic softball team was announced Tuesday by Commissioner John D. Swofford, highlighted by a league-high six North Carolina selections. The senior class of Christine Knauer, Stephanie Murad, and Anna Roberts join Brittany Robinson, Brittany McKinney and Kelli Wheeler to comprise the Tar Heel selections.
Knauer, 2010 All-ACC first team honoree, earns her first appearance on the All-ACC Academic. A three-time winner of the Hustle Award, Knauer enjoyed a stellar senior season notching career-bests in nearly every statistical category.
Murad, a three-time winner of the Tom and Linda Hazen Scholar Athlete Award, also earns her first All-ACC Academic nod. The senior has finished each semester on the Dean's list and is also a recipient of the Athletic Director's scholar athlete award.
Roberts is one of two Tar Heels to earn her second All-ACC Academic honor. The winner of the 2010 Coach's Award and team leader, Roberts also earned league academic accolades a year ago.
Robinson makes her first appearance on the honor roll in her junior season. The Deep Run, N.C., native belted six home runs in 51 starts her junior campaign with the Tar Heels.
McKinney is also a two-time selection of the All-ACC Academic team, earning the honor in 2009. The catcher enjoyed a career year in her junior season, ranking second on the team with 11 home runs. McKinney hit just five career home runs entering 2010.
Wheeler, the youngest Tar Heel selection, earns her first All-ACC Academic honor. The sophomore outfielder led Carolina with 13 home runs in 58 starts in 2010.
The ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards were established in September 2007 to be awarded annually to the top junior or senior student-athlete in their respective sports. Candidates for the awards must have maintained a 3.0 grade point average for their career as well as earned a 3.0 for each of the last two semesters.
A total of 14 student-athletes of the 31-member team are returning to the All-Academic squad. All eight of the ACC's softball teams were represented, with North Carolina leading the league with six selections, followed by Boston College, Florida State, and Georgia Tech with five apiece. Virginia garnered four picks, Virginia Tech had three, Maryland had two, and NC State had one.
