Aug. 6, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Georgia Tech senior Whitney Haller has been named the 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, as announced today by Commissioner John D. Swofford. The first baseman leads a list of six Yellow Jackets included on the 30-member All-ACC Academic team.

Haller, an industrial engineering major from Marietta, Ga., was also a first-team CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American in 2009 and has been an ACC Academic Honor Roll recipient every year of her collegiate career (2005-2009). Additionally, Haller has been honored in the past with two other CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americas.

Haller turned in a career year on the diamond in 2009 as she was tabbed All-America by Easton and was a member of the Lowe's Senior All-American first-team. She finished in the Top-10 statistical rankings in nine offensive categories, including a conference-leading 55 runs batted-in. She is a four-time All-ACC Academic honoree and became the second Georgia Tech softball player to earn All-ACC accolades four times.

The ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards were established in September 2007 to be awarded annually to the top junior or senior student-athlete in their respective sports. Candidates for the awards must have maintained a 3.0 grade point average for their career as well as earned a 3.0 for each of the last two semesters.

Haller was joined by five of her Yellow Jacket teammates on the All-ACC Academic Softball team as Georgia Tech and Florida State led with six selections apiece. Virginia followed with five picks and North Carolina placed four student-athletes on the team. Boston College landed three players, while Maryland, NC State, and Virginia Tech each had two apiece. All eight ACC softball teams were represented on the 30-member team.

Eleven members of the All-ACC Academic Softball team, including Haller, were also tabbed All-ACC in 2009, and four individuals have made multiple All-ACC teams. A total of 13 players earned All-ACC Academic accolades for the second consecutive season, six for the third consecutive season. Only Haller and teammate Blair Shimandle were four-time honorees.

To be considered for the All-ACC Academic team, a student-athlete must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the most recent semester and for their careers.