Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

GLEN ALLEN, Va. – Seven members of the University of Delaware field hockey team have been named to the Division I National Academic squad as selected by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.

Kacie Campbell, Rae Everson, Tori Karsten, Lizzie Lewis, Emily Ortega (at right), Carli Shutter, and Florence Sijbrandij were all honored for their achievements both in the classroom and on the field.

The NFHCA Academic team is annually comprised of those student-athletes who achieve a minimum 3.30 grade point average through the first semester of the current academic year.

Headlined by the efforts of the six individual award-winners, the Delaware field hockey squad was also honored with a 2008 National Academic Team Award after posting a cumulative GPA higher than 3.00.

Campbell (Hershey, Pa. / Hershey) is a biological sciences major at Delaware. During her sophomore season, the standout back started all 18 games for the Blue Hens. She was one of only five players on the team to start every contest, and she has now appeared in 27 games with 19 starts during her two-year career.

Everson (Felton, Del. / Caesar Rodney) is an athletic training major with a minor in strength and conditioning. A three-year starter, she appeared in 17 games and anchored the defense while also recording two assists. Last month, she was also nominated for the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award.

Karsten (River Forest, Ill. / Oak Park River Forest) is a three-time member of the All-Academic team as a business marketing major at Delaware. During her junior campaign, the standout forward finished second on the team with four goals and nine points. Overall, she has appeared in 53 games during her career with 15 goals and 41 points.

Lewis (Newark, Del. / Tower Hill) is majoring in human services at Delaware. A third-year member of the team, she saw action in 11 games and started against No. 14 Boston. A junior back, she helped lead a defense that allowed three goals or less in 15 of the team’s 18 contests during the year.

Ortega (Camp Hill, Pa. / Camp Hill) is a mathematics and biology major at Delaware. As a true freshman in 2008, she appeared in 12 games and made six starts. One of only two first-year players to appear in at least 10 games, she posted two shots as a midfielder.

Shutter (York, Pa. / Central York) is majoring in exercise physiology with a minor in nutrition at Delaware. A redshirt freshman, she saw her first collegiate action this season against No. 2 Maryland.

Sijbranij (Arnhem, Netherlands / Stedelijk Gymnasium) is a two-year member of the All-Academic team as a biology major. A second-team All-Region selection, she served as a co-captain during her sophomore season when she tied for the team-lead with 10 points and finished second with four goals.

Each year since 2002, the Blue Hens have had at least four players named to the national academic squad.