Three honored for academics by SEC

FAYETTEVILLE – Three members of the University of Arkansas volleyball team earned a spot on the 2009 Fall Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll. Mackenzie Rhea, Kristin Seaton and Kelli Stipanovich were all recognized by the league for their work in the classroom.

Rhea was one of three Razorback student-athletes to record a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. The biology major from Webb City, Mo., played in all 31 of Arkansas’ matches this past season with five starts. She averaged 1.36 digs per set and had a season-high 12 digs in the conference opener against South Carolina.

Stipanovich and Seaton were second and fourth, respectively, on the team in kills per set during the 2009 season. Stipanovich, a sophomore art major from St. Louis, Mo., had double-figure kills in 14 matches, including a season-high 17 putaways in the finale at Ole Miss. Seaton, a senior kinesiology major from Fort Smith, Ark., became the 22nd player in program history to surpass the 500-kill mark during her final season, finishing her Razorback career with 667 kills.

"We are proud of the Razorback student-athletes representing the University of Arkansas on the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll," Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long said. "These young men women have demonstrated their commitment to academic and athletic achievement while embracing the full student-athlete experience."

Overall, the University of Arkansas placed 29 student-athletes on the 2009 Fall SEC Honor Roll. The league also recognizes a winter, spring and freshman academic honor rolls. The Razorback volleyball team had seven of its 12 roster spots taken by freshman during the 2009 season.

To be selected to the league’s honor roll, a student-athlete must have a GPA of 3.00 or above for either the preceding academic year or have a cumulative GPA above a 3.00; summer school from the previous semester is included; student-athletes may be scholarship and non-scholarship recipients; student-athletes must have successfully completed 24 semester or 36 quarter hours toward a degree; and student-athletes must be a member of the varsity team for the entire NCAA Championship segment.