Casiple, Burgess named Academic All-District

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Sophomore goalkeeper Kela Casiple and senior defender Nenita Burgess of the Blue Raider soccer team were named to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 4 Teams as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America on Thursday.

"It is truly an honor for both of them to receive such a prestigious award," Head Coach Aston Rhoden said. "At Middle Tennessee we stress academic as well as athletic excellence. It is good to see two of our more accomplished student athletes embody the spirit of what we strive to achieve at our university."

Casiple was selected as one of just two goalkeepers to the District 4 Second Team after achieving a 3.90 cumulative grade-point average through the 2007 academic year. The Miami, Fla., native ranks 19th in the nation in save percentage and 60th in goals-against average.

Going into the final match of the season, the English major ranks second overall in the Sun Belt Conference in save percentage, third in goals-against average and second in shutouts.

Burgess was named to the District 4 Third Team after achieving a 3.77 grade-point average in Physical Education. The Adelaide, Australia native is no stranger to academic awards as she has twice been named to the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner's List and once to the Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll in her four-year career as a Blue Raider.

She has started 16 matches this season and serves as a valuable member of a defense that has allowed the fewest number of goals in program history.

DISTRICT FOUR
FIRST TEAM
GK Allison Whitworth AUBURN
MF Amanda Gallow DAYTON
MF Jessica Boyle OAKLAND
MF Kimberly Beiting MOREHEAD STATE
D Megan Brown MICHIGAN STATE
D Jenn Johnson AUBURN
D Rachel Friedman WESTERN KENTUCKY
D Danielle Blair ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM
F Lauren Hill MICHIGAN STATE
F Kristin McDonald BOWLING GREEN
F Kristin Cocchiarella WESTERN KENTUCKY

SECOND TEAM
GK Shay Mannino CENTRAL MICHIGAN
GK Kela Casiple MIDDLE TENNESSEE
MF Vendula Strnadova MEMPHIS
MF Kathryn Lally TENNESSEE TECH
MF Molly Kinsella VANDERBILT
D Kate Murphy MEMPHIS
D Julie Hull KENTUCKY
D Katie Stephenson BOWLING GREEN
D Kim Sykes CINCINNATI
F Kara Kasten AUBURN
F Kelly Blumenschein DAYTON
F Erika Schmitt OHIO
F Kylie Hayes MEMPHIS

THIRD TEAM
MF Erica Rohren CENTRAL MICHIGAN
MF Ashley Bowyer OHIO STATE
MF Courtney Jenkins OHIO STATE
D Lauren Beachy OHIO STATE
D Taren Brown TENNESSEE TECH
D Laura Mecklenborg TOLEDO
D Jackie Barath KENT STATE
D Giavonna Ferraro AKRON
D Nenita Burgess MIDDLE TENNESSEE
F Erin Adams MOREHEAD STATE
F Amanda Waugh CENTRAL MICHIGAN

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