• ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II Teams (.pdf)

CALIFORNIA (Nov. 5) – California University of Pennsylvania seniors Renata da Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Colegio Ateneu) and Joanna Nist (Rockwood, Pa./Rockwood) were named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II First-Team, announced the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Thursday.

By being first-team selections, da Silva and Nist are now eligible for consideration for the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America teams.

Nist currently leads the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and is among the national leaders with 3.70 kills per set. She also ranks among the league leaders with a .284 attack percentage. In addition to her offensive prowess, Nist also averages 3.21 digs per set and has collected 17 kill/dig double-doubles this season. The two-time Daktronics Atlantic Regional Player of the Year, Nist boasts a 3.71 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) while pursuing a degree in mentally/physically handicapped and elementary education.

A 5-10 outside hitter, Nist is the first Cal U player to earn the academic laurel in back-to-back seasons since Katie Barker in 2004 and 2005.

da Silva leads the PSAC with 11.31 assists per set despite missing nearly three weeks due to injury. A two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American, she is one of the premier setters in conference history and holds the Cal U career record with 5,112 assists. The 5-8 senior is also on pace to become only the fifth player in program history to total 1,000 career digs. da Silva holds a cumulative 3.75 GPA while pursuing a degree in international studies.

This marks the first season in program history in which the Vulcans feature multiple first-team academic all-district selections. Overall, Cal U had two of the five volleyball standouts from the PSAC to earn a spot on the three academic all-district teams, including three first-team selections.

To qualify for the academic all-district honors, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative 3.20 GPA or higher and must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at their institution. Nominees must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games and must be a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletic credentials.

The district consists of all colleges and universities in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and District of Columbia that are not affiliated with NCAA Division II.