May 8, 2008
Houston, Texas (www.ucfathletics.com) - For the second-consecutive season, the UCF softball team had two student-athletes named to the Conference USA All-Academic Team, with seniors Ashley Van Ryn (Atlanta, Ga.) and Cat Snapp (Niceville, Fla.) representing the Knights on the squad league officials announced Wednesday night at the C-USA softball annual banquet.
UCF was one of only three squads to have two players voted onto the all-academic team.
In order to be eligible for the 11-member team, a student-athlete must maintain a 3.2 GPA or higher and must be a starter or key reserve in their second full year at their institution.
Van Ryn, a hospitality management major, holds a 3.93 GPA and received the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal in 2006, 2007 and 2008, while also making the All-Academic team last season. She was named the 2008 recipient of the Dr. Richard Lapchick Award, given to a student-athlete who excels on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The senior is set to graduate in top one-percent of her class. On the field, Van Ryn ranks in the UCF all-time top-10 in five different categories, including stolen-base percentage, triples, double plays turned, games played and games started and ranks second on her team this season in stolen bases, third in triples and ties for third in doubles.
Snapp makes her first appearance on the C-USA All-Academic team, posting a 3.81 GPA as an Art major. The senior received the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal in 2006, 2007 and 2008, while also making the 2005 Atlantic Sun Conference All-Academic Team her freshman year. Snapp was named the 2008 UCF Softball Scholar-Athlete at the first annual All-Sports Banquet held in April. One of the Knights' starting catchers, Snapp ranks in the UCF all-time top-10 in 10 different categories, including at-bats, sacrifice flies, sacrifice hits, fielding percentage, putouts, games played and games started, while holding the top spot in times hit by a pitch and tying for the top spot with 27 base runners thrown out.
The duo looks to help the No. 2 Knights clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament when they compete for the Conference USA Softball Championship title May 8-10 in Houston, Texas. For tickets, visit conferenceusa.cstv.com.
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Conference USA Softball All-Academic Team
Cristen Aona, ECU
Charina Sumner, ECU
Katie Bush, Houston
Laurie Wagner, Houston
Rachel Folden, Marshall
Lindsey Kelso, Memphis
Sara Dyer, Tulsa
Holly Krzan, UAB
Cat Snapp, UCF
Ashley Van Ryn, UCF
Stacie Townsend, UTEP
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