The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Trio of Blazers Named To C-USA All-Academic Team
5/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 10, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- UAB leftfielder Catherine Douglass, catcher Mandy Lowman and rightfielder Sallie Van Kirk were each named to the 2011 Conference USA Softball All-Academic Team, as announced by the league office on Tuesday. The trio represents the most selections in program history and the most among any C-USA team this year.
Douglass is a three-time C-USA Academic Medal recipient, three-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and has received UAB Presidential Honors twice. She carries a 3.90 GPA in psychology. As a starter in all 54 of the Blazers' contests this season, Douglass is hitting .249 and has driven in 18 runs. The Hueytown, Ala., native is 7-of-8 in stolen bases this year and her 25 runs are second on the team.
Lowman earns the all-academic honor for the second straight year and joins current assistant coach Holly Krzan as the only Blazers to receive the honor multiple times. Last year, Lowman also became the first Blazer in program history to be named to the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District Team, receiving second-team honors. A native of Huntsville, Ala., she is majoring in math and has maintained a 3.86 GPA. Additionally, Lowman has been awarded the C-USA Academic Medal three times and made three appearances on the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll. The catcher has started every game for the Blazers behind the plate this season and is hitting .245 with five home runs, tied for the most on the team.
Van Kirk received the honor after carrying a 3.88 GPA as a nursing major. She is a two-time C-USA Academic Medal recipient and two-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll. Not only has she been successful in the classroom this year, but she also has been a staple in UAB's outfield this season. The Athens, Ala., native is second on the team with a .289 batting average and has started all but one contest.
UAB's three selections were the most among the nine schools that participate in softball. Houston, Memphis and UCF each had two representatives, while East Carolina, Marshall and Southern Miss had one apiece.
The Blazers return to the diamond Thursday at the 2011 C-USA Championship hosted by East Carolina. No. 3 seed UAB will take on No. 6 seed UCF at 1:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. CT at ECU Softball Stadium in Greenville, N.C.
2011 Softball All-Academic Team
Toni Paisley, East Carolina
Jennifer Klinkert, Houston
Katy Beth Sherman, Houston
Rebecca Gamby, Marshall
Heather Mott, Memphis
Janelle Valle, Memphis
Leslie LeJune, Southern Miss
Catherine Douglass, UAB
Mandy Lowman, UAB
Sallie Van Kirk, UAB
Natalie Land, UCF
Abby McClain, UCF
