June 29, 2006

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Six University of Virginia softball players have been named to the inaugural 32-member 2006 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Softball Team as announced Thursday (June 29) by Commissioner John Swofford. UVa led all schools with its six selections to the team, while Georgia Tech was second with five. The six players earning the honor are rising fourth-years Elea Crockett (Tucson, Ariz./University) and Brooke Sorber (Alexandria, Va./Mount Vernon), rising third-year Lindsey Preuss (La Plata, Md./La Plata), and 2006 graduates Jackie Greer (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern), Erin Horn (Tallahassee, Fla./Leon) and Jessica Taylor (Philadelphia, Pa./Germantown Academy).

Crockett, a three-year starter at second, was a second team All-ACC and All-Southeast Region selection in 2005. In 2006, the psychology major hit .229 while starting 44 of the 47 games she appeared in. The two-time VaSID All-State First Team pick, is a .329 (159-484) career hitter. Crockett is third on UVa's all-time stolen bases list with 49.

Sorber, a health and physical education major, hit .204 (29-142) in 2006 while belting the first four home runs of her career. Sorber tied the school record with a pair of home runs against George Mason (Mar. 28). She played in all 55 games with 49 starts, including 35 at first base.

Preuss was second on the team with a .281 (38-135) batting average and earned VaSID All-State Second Team honors as an outfielder. She led the team with 10 doubles and tied for team-high honors with 14 extra-base hits, including a career-best three home runs.

Greer graduated in May as a double major in finance and management. She was a 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III Softball Second Team selection. An excellent defensive outfielder, Greer started 27 games in right field in 2006 while playing in 48 of Virginia's 55 games. She hit .176 (6-34) with a pair of RBI. Greer also appeared in 21 games as a pinch runner and scored a total of 10 runs. She stole a career-best 11 bases in 14 attempts and posted a .955 fielding percentage (one error in 22 total chances).

Horn earned a degree in psychology in May and captured VaSID All-State Second Team honors in 2006. Horn, who was selected as UVa's Most Valuable Player, posted a 13-12 overall record with a career-best four saves and a 2.03 ERA in 37 pitching appearances. Horn struck out 190 batters in 141.1 innings and held opposing hitters to a .176 batting average. She notched her second career no-hitter against Maine on Feb. 26 while striking out a career-best 16 batters, including 13 consecutive at one point in the contest. Horn was named ACC Player of the Week on Feb. 27.

Taylor, who anchored Virginia's outfield from center field, rounds out UVa's ACC All-Academic selections. The foreign affairs major was a second-team All-ACC pick in 2006, marking the second consecutive year she has earned All-Conference accolades. The only Cavalier to start all 55 games at the same position in 2006, Taylor hit .272 (46-169) with 20 RBI. Her 46 hits and 28 runs scored led the team. Taylor was also second on the team with 15 stolen bases and concluded her career tied for second on UVa's all-time stolen bases list with 52.

To be eligible for consideration, a player must earn a 3.00 grade point average for the previous semester and have maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during his academic career.