Tennis Quartet Earn All-Big 12 Academic Honors

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IRVING, Texas-- A quartet of University of Colorado tennis student-athletes were named to the 2007 Academic All-Big 12 Tennis team, the league office announced Tuesday.

Juniors Veera Nurmi and Gleisy Torres Torres were named to the conference first team with a grade point average of 3.20 or better; while senior Martina Sedivec and sophomore Franziska Jendrian were named to the second team (3.00-3.19).

Overall, 44 women's tennis student-athletes were named (32 first team; 12 second team).

It's the second first team honor for Torres Torres, who earned first team accolades last year. The junior from Barquisimeto, Venezuela is majoring in broadcast news/ethnic studies. Nurmi is from Lahti, Finland and majoring in geography.

Colorado also named a pair to the second team with Jendrian, a business-accounting major from Rodleban, Germany; and Sedivec, a two-time second team selection, an international affairs major.

Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, first team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of his/her team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.

The 2007 Big 12 Tennis Championships will be held on Thursday-Sunday at the Plaza Tennis Courts in Kansas City, Mo. for the third time in conference history.

The women's championship features the following winners Baylor (2006), Texas (1997-2002, 2005), Oklahoma State (2003) and Texas A&M (2004).

The Buffaloes (16-6, 9-2 Big 12) are having their best season in eight years, are the No. 4 seed and will play the winner of No. 5 Oklahoma State/No. 12 Iowa State on Friday at 11 a.m. (mountain).

2007 Academic All-Big 12 women's tennis Team

First Team (3.20-plus gpa)

Veera Nurmi, Jr., Geography, Lahti, Finland

Gleisy Torres Torres, Jr., Broadcast News/Ethnic Studies, Barquisimeto, Venezuela

Second Team (3.00 to 3.19 gpa)

Franziska Jendrian, So., Business-Accounting, Rodleban, Germany

Martina Sedivec , Sr., International Affairs, Montreal, Quebec, Canada