Nov. 23, 2009
IRVING, Texas -
Memphis setter Christine Bach and libero Becky Shaffer were named to the 2009 Conference USA All-Academic Team, as selected by the league's Sports Information Directors for women's volleyball. Bach earns her third consecutive academic award, while Shaffer takes home recognition for the first time.
Bach is currently enrolled in the MBA program at Memphis and owns a perfect 4.0 GPA. The Dresden, Germany native graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in international business last May and is a three-year recipient of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and C-USA Academic Medal. After serving as libero for the Tigers the last two years, Bach transitioned to the setter position this season and led Memphis with 10 double-doubles. She became the first Tiger to ever record three 30-plus dig outings when she picked up a season-high 31 digs in the season-opener versus Evansville. Bach paced the Tigers with 945 assists and 31 service aces. Her 281 digs in 2009 moved her into ninth all-time at Memphis with 1,298 career digs.
Shaffer, who earned All-Academic accolades with a 4.0 GPA in chemistry and biochemistry, put together her strongest season in the Memphis back court. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native led the club and moved into fifth on the Tiger's single-season digs ledger with a career-best 457 digs. Shaffer reached 20 or more digs three times, including picking up a career-high 27 digs versus UAB on September 17.
Bach and Shaffer are joined by a group of four seniors, three juniors, one sophomore and a redshirt freshman on the team that consists of student-athletes who have earned a 3.2 cumulative grade point average or better and are a starter or key reserve on their team. Rice landed a league-best three picks to the all-academic team, including Jessica Boulavsky, Jenn McClean and repeat selection Tracey Lam. Elizabeth Fleming of Marshall returned to the all-academic squad with a 4.0 GPA in international business. The junior setter was named to the All-C-USA second team this. Representing the Green Wave for the second consecutive year is junior Lindsey Shepard. Lauren Sears, who helped Southern Miss capture its first regular season title and earn the No. 1 seed to the C-USA Volleyball Championship, is the only sophomore to land on the all-academic team and sports a 4.0 GPA in mathematics. Tulsa's Jennifer Eichler earned a slot on the all-academic team after being named the 2009 C-USA Co-Player of the Year. The senior was also placed on the All-C-USA first team and ranks third in C-USA in points per set (4.35). Eichler owns a 3.57 GPA as a psychology major. Rounding out the 2009 C-USA Volleyball All-Academic Team are UAB's Andrea Lalic and Cassandra Burruel of UTEP. Lalic is a civil engineering student who also minors in mathematics. She owns a 3.55 GPA and is a member of the Student-Athlete National Honor Society. The senior outside hitter leads the UAB attack this season with a career-best 2.90 kills per set Burruel earned a spot on the all-academic team as a redshirt freshman. The biology major carries a 3.69 GPA.
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2009 CONFERENCE USA VOLLEYBALL ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
NAME SCHOOL YR GPA MAJOR
*Elizabeth Fleming Marshall Jr. 4.00 International Affairs
** Christine Bach Memphis R-Jr. 4.00 MBA
Becky Shaffer Memphis Jr. 4.00 Chemistry-Biochemistry (Minor: Sociology & Spanish)
Jessica Boulavsky Rice Sr. 4.00 Psychology/Pre-Med
*Tracey Lam Rice Jr. 3.68 Economics, Asian Studies (Minor: Business)
Jenn McClean Rice Sr. 3.83 Economics (Minor: Business)
Lauren Sears USM So. 4.00 Mathematics
*Lindsey Shepard Tulane Jr. 3.87 Biomedical Engineering
Jennifer Eichler Tulsa Sr. 3.57 Psychology
Andrea Lalic UAB Sr. 3.55 Civil Engineering (Minor: Mathematical)
Cassandra Burruel UTEP R-Fr. 3.69 Biology (Biomedical Track)
*Repeat Selection
