Oct. 23, 2001

CLEVELAND - The Cleveland State softball team ranked 20th nationally in cumulative grade point average for the 2000-2001 academic year in standings compiled by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association it was recently announced.

The 16-member Viking squad posted a 3.240 to tie Horizon League rival Butler University along with Wichita State University. Indiana State led the nation by posting a 3.660 gpa.

Cleveland State was one of five Ohio schools to check in with a 3.000 gpa or higher, second only to Kent State University at 3.362. The University of Akron and The Ohio State University followed behind CSU with 3.196 and 3.190, respectively. League rival Wright State University also finished above a 3.000 with a 3.090 gpa

Eight team members - Kim Evans (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone), Tiffany Nofziger (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold), Jen Paul (Massillon, Ohio/Washington), Jackie Miller (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit), Tiffany Stocker (Sherrodsville, Ohio/Conotton Valley), Lindsay Gervais (Bucyrus, Ohio/Colonel Crawford), Heather Hlasko (Medina, Ohio/Cloverleaf) and Holly Fredericks (Toledo, Ohio/Rossford) - earned CSU's Athletic Academic Excellence Awards last spring for maintaining a 3.000 cumulative gpa or higher. Stocker, a communication major, also maintained Dean's List Club status by being on the Dean's List all six semesters while at CSU.