CoSIDA Academic All-America TeamAUSTIN, Texas – Cal State LA's
Iona Lofrano earned some major recognition for her academic prowess on Wednesday when she was been named to the 2015 Academic All-America Division II Volleyball Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Lofrano, a senior outside hitter from Meadow Vista, was named to the second team and became only the second player in the volleyball program's history to earn Academic All-America honors. Kasey Jungswirth was the other, earning first-team honors in 2000.
The academic teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. To be eligible, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.3 grade point average and be a starter or key reserve.
Lofrano is majoring in exercise science and has a grade point average of 3.64.
Six players, including CoSIDA Academic All-America of the Year winner Berkley Whaley of Tampa were named to the first team. She was joined by Katy Davis of Central Oklahoma, Krista Kaslag of Missouri Science & Tech, Katie MacLeay of Angelo State, Annie Reilly of Central Missouri and Alexandra Torline of Cal State San Bernardino.
The six first-team members had a combined grade point average of 3.88 with Davis and MacLeay holding 4.00 grade point averages.
Lofrano was one of six second-team members. That second team also included Autumn Duyn of the University of West Florida, Riley Hanson of Concordia St. Paul, Whitney Kostal of Rockhurst, Rebekah Phelps of Montevallo and Leanna Willer of Washburn.
An additional seven players made the third team.
Lofrano and Torline were the only two student-athletes from the West Region to earn Academic All-America honors in volleyball.
Lofrano becomes the 11
th student-athlete from Cal State LA to earn Academic All-America honors and she earned the 12
th overall award. Christie Lau earned Academic All-America honors twice in 2012 and 2013.
Cal State LA has now had at least one Academic All-American in five straight years. That list includes Sergio Cedano of men's soccer (2011), Waleed Cassis of men's soccer (2012), Christie Lau of women's tennis (2012, 2013), Lisa Ohberg of women's track/cross country (2013), Dane Nielsen and Shane Panther of men's soccer (2014) and Heather Williams of women's soccer (2014).
Lofrano completed a tremendous four-year career with the Golden Eagles. She led Cal State LA for a third time and the California Collegiate Athletic Association for a second time in kills with 496 in 2015 and she was ranked seventh nationally in kills per set with 4.55. Lofrano finished her career with 1,514 kills, which is No. 2 all-time at Cal State LA. She had 4,287 attempts, which is a new Cal State LA career record, surpassing the previous mark of 4,238 by Jamie Griffin.
