June 29, 2011
Contact: Greg Murphy
Complete Release in PDF Format 
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Eight Cleveland State student-athletes across five teams were selected to the 2011 Horizon League Spring Academic All-League team based on their successes both on the field and in the classroom.
The league released the list, voted upon by the league's faculty athletics representatives and sports information directors, on Wednesday (June 29).
Softball led the way with four selections, including Brittany Bate (Grosse Point Woods, Mich./Grosse Point North), Gabrielle Gillilan (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Ready), Amy Powell (Streetsboro, Ohio/Streetsboro) and Tess Sito (Elyria, Ohio/Elyria).
Men's golf standout Michael Klaric (Hermitage, PA./Kennedy) was also honored, as were Robert Fox (Rotterdam, The Netherlands/Erasmiaans Gymnasium) from the men's tennis team, Catrine Bjerrehus (Aarhus, Denmark/Marselisborg Gymnasium) of the women's tennis team and baseball's Anthony Sambula (Novelty, Ohio/West Geauga).
A senior psychology, sociology and criminology triple major with a 3.91 GPA, Bate appeared in 15 games and finished third on the team with a .308 batting average. She received the Cleveland State Presidential Award earlier this year as the graduating senior student-athlete with the highest grade point average.
Gillilan, a sophomore journalism and promotional communications major carrying a 3.84 GPA, played in all 50 games this season, earning the starting nod in 49. She batted in 16 runs on 33 hits, including three doubles and four home runs.
Powell, a senior psychology major with a 3.50 GPA, started all 50 games in 2011, scoring seven runs on 26 hits. She also recorded five doubles, two home runs and eight RBI.
Sito became just the fifth player in league history to be named Horizon League Player of the Year in consecutive seasons after the sophomore pitcher led the conference in wins (25), strikeouts (312) and innings pitched (289). One of the Vikings' top offensive players, Sito also led the team in hits (60), doubles (11) and stolen bases (18) while batting .361. She has a 3.76 GPA and is majoring in communication.
Klaric, a sophomore business administration major with a 3.43 GPA, and Fox, a senior marketing & management/labor relations major carrying a 3.87 GPA, led their respective teams to Horizon League Championships this past Spring.
Klaric finished one-under-par at the NCAA San Diego Regionals, just missing the NCAA National Championship cut by four strokes.
Fox was the Horizon League Student Athlete of the Month for April and an all-league first team selection after going 22-13 in singles play and teaming with John Haley to win a school-record 28 doubles matches.
A junior business administration major with a 3.79 GPA, Bjerrehus won eight matches at the No. 1 singles flight while leading the Vikings to the second best record in the league (7-1) and a berth in the finals of the Horizon League Championship tournament.
Sambula, a senior communication major who posted a 3.56 GPA, led the Vikings with three wins on the mound, including one shutout. He struck out 60 opposing batters and recorded a 5.05 ERA, the second best on the team among starters. Sambula also proved himself as a batter and a fielder, starting 49 games as an outfielder, first baseman or designated hitter and batting .276 with 48 hits, including three doubles and a triple, and 16 RBI. A consummate leader, Sambula was the recipient of this year's Horizon League Sportsmanship Award, which is presented annually to the team or individual that exemplifies and continuously promotes integrity and sportsmanship.
The Horizon League recognizes student-athletes with seasonal Academic All-League Teams in each of its 19 championship sports. To be eligible for Academic All-Horizon League consideration, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.20 or higher (based on a 4.00 scale) and have completed at least one year at the member institution, having earned 24 semester-hour or 36 quarter-hour credits.