(May 11, 2006) - Fordham University sophomore shortstop Laura Klaiber (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) was named First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I, it was announced today by the College Sports Information Directors of America. She will now be placed on the national ballot for ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America? consideration.
In order to be considered for ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honors, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve, maintain a 3.20 GPA or better and have reached sophomore athletic or academic standing.
Klaiber, who was named Second Team All-Atlantic 10 yesterday, is hitting .311 (51-164) on the year with 11 doubles, two triples, ten home runs, 45 RBI and 40 runs scored while in league play she hit a sizzling .396 (21-53) with five doubles, one triple, four home runs and 18 RBI. She is tied for the team lead in home runs and RBI and has a team-best .585 slugging percentage while ranking second on the squad in runs, doubles and on-base percentage and earning Atlantic 10 Player of the Week honors once in 2006.
Over the past two years, the 2005 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year has recorded 101 RBI, becoming just the second Ram to drive in over 100 runs, while hitting 16 home runs to tie for second on the all-time list and ranking third in career slugging percentage (.570). Klaiber also set the Fordham single season RBI record with 56 in 2005.
Academically, Klaiber is an English major with a 3.72 GPA who also was named Academic All-Atlantic 10 in a vote by the conference Sports Information Directors.
Fordham enters the 2006 Atlantic 10 Championships with a 35-21 overall record after finishing the A-10 regular season with a 13-5 mark. The Rams won over 30 games for the fourth straight year and are making their fourth straight appearance at the Atlantic 10 Championships. Head coach
Bridget Orchard??s squad, the third seed, will open play at the championship by facing the second-seeded University of Massachusetts Minutewomen on Thursday, May 11th following the first game of the day between Charlotte, the first seed, and St. Bonaventure, the fourth seed, which begins at noon.
