Jan. 25, 2008

FRESNO, Calif. - The biggest part of being a student-athlete at Fresno State is the student part. Five Bulldog volleyball players proved they could excel on and off the court by earning Western Athletic Conference All-Academic Honors for the 2007 Fall Sports Season.

Senior's Alisha McKee, Angela Wiggins and Tiffany Hess, along with sophomores Lisa Gera and Kelly Leonardo, participated in at least 50-percent of the team's contests, have completed at least one academic year and have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

With this year's honor, McKee earned four-straight All-Academic Honors from the WAC. She was named to the second team All-Conference by the WAC coaches and led the Bulldogs in kills with 307.

In just two short years with the Bulldogs, Hess climbed up several lists in the record books and now ranks in the top 10 for career assists (1,301) and assists per game (6.76). This was the second All-Academic Honor from the WAC for Hess.

Wiggins was second on the 2007 team with 2.59 kills per game in 82 games. Just like McKee, Wiggins earned four-straight Academic All-WAC Honors.

This was the first Academic Honor for either Gera or Leonardo. After a great blocking year as a freshman in 2006, Leonardo broke nearly all of her personal records in 2007. She led the team with 99 total blocks.

Gera stepped up in 2007 to the libero position and set many match records in digs and the school record of six service aces in a five game match against Boise State.

A total of 250 athletes from the WAC earned the All-Academic Honor in the Fall. For a complete list from all sports, visit www.wacsports.com.

"Join the State - Fresno State!" - For more information on Fresno State volleyball in the off-season, continue to long on to www.gobulldogs.com.