July 17, 2006

Eight Illinois softball players earned Academic All-Big Ten honors. To be eligible, players have to be letterwinners in at least their second year of eligibility at the school and a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 or better.

Illinois tied for the second most honorees in the conference. Penn State led the league with nine followed by Illinois and Indiana with 8, Northwestern (7) Minnesota (6), Purdue (6), Iowa (5), Michigan (5), Michigan State (5), Ohio State (4) and Wisconsin (2).

Laura Zobrist, an advertising major, earned Academic All-Big Ten for the third consecutive year while Molly Lawhead (sport management) and Kisten Martin (kinesiology) were repeat honorees. Others earning Academic All-Big Ten included Angelena Mexicano (advertising), Claire DeVreese (sport management), Katie Gaitros (biology), Sarah Bryers (kinesiology), and Shanna Diller.