LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola senior middle blocker Kelsey Christoferson has been named to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Volleyball Third Team for the College Division, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Christoferson, who was a first-team All-District 8 selection in both 2008 and 2009, holds a 3.98 GPA in mathematics. She was one of 18 representatives on the College Division team, which includes NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA schools from across the country. She was also the lone student-athlete on the College Division team from District 8, which covers Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and British Columbia.

While she has had a successful four year in the classroom, the senior from Carlsbad played a huge part in helping turn what was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Eagles into yet another successful season, culminating in Biola's third-straight NAIA Tournament appearance. Christoferson has played all over the court this season, having moved from middle blocker to outside hitter midway through the season after a rash of injuries. Despite never playing any other position then middle blocker in college before, Christoferson excelled and helped keep the Eagles' momentum going.

The senior led the team and was fifth in the conference in hitting percentage at .345, recording 260 kills (2.41 per set) and adding 83 blocks (0.77 per set). Christoferson, who appeared in 29 of the team's 31 matches, also had 46 digs, 10 assists and posted five solo blocks. When all was said and done, she recorded 304 points, averaging 2.81 per set.

Christoferson becomes Biola's fourth Academic All-American, joining Meghan Warkentin as the lone volleyball players to receive the honor.

To be eligible for the national team, a student athlete had to have been selected to its District's first team. Initial nomination criteria at the District level includes being a varsity starter or key reserve, maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, reaching sophomore athletic and academic standing at his current institution and be nominated by their sports information director.

Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA (the College Sports Information Directors of America) has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student athletes in NCAA Divisions I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports.

The complete 2009 Academic All-America University and College Division teams can be found by clicking here (pdf file).