LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Senior middle blocker Tavea Hampton has been named to the 2010 ESPN Academic All-District 8 First Team as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America on Tuesday.

Hampton, who hails from Canyon Lake, Calif., earned the recognition for her work in the classroom and on the court over the course of the year. Hampton holds a 3.62 GPA in Kinesiology, Health and Physical Education. In addition, she has earned Dean's list honors each of her six semesters at Biola and has been a team rep for the Biola Athletic Ministry the last two years.

On the court, Hampton is known as one of the best middle blockers in the Golden State Athletic Conference, currently ranking third in hitting percentage and third in blocks in the toughest volleyball conference in the NAIA. She has recorded double-digit kills with no errors in five matches this season. Hampton also ranks among the top players in school history in blocks and hitting percentage.

To be nominated for all-district consideration, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) for her career. No athlete is eligible until he has reached sophomore athletic and academic standing. District 8 college division covers all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA schools in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and British Columbia.

As a member of the district's first-team, Hampton is now eligible to earn Academic All-America honors. Hampton continues a streak of four years in which Biola has had a representative on the All-District 8 First-Team, the longest active streak by any school in the district. 

Just four Biola athletes have ever earned CoSIDA Academic All-American honors, the last was volleyball's Kelsey Christoferson, who was a third-team selection in 2009. The 2010 Volleyball Academic All-American team is scheduled to be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 22.