Jan. 5, 2009

CLEVELAND - The Mid-American Conference office announced Monday that juniors Megan Griffin, Hallie Hanks and Maria Leahy were all named to the MAC All-Academic Volleyball Team. It is the first time that Miami has had three members make the squad since 2004.

Griffin was named to the academic squad for the second consecutive season. The two-time All-MAC First Team member set a new single-season hitting percentage record at Miami, hitting .358 for the season. She finished second on the team with 328 kills. Griffin was previously honored as a MAC East Division Player of the Week on Oct. 6 and Scholar Athlete of the Week on Dec. 6.

This is Hanks’ first academic honor. She also earned Second Team All-MAC honors this year after a breakout season in which she increased her kills per set average from 1.70 in 2007 to 2.65 in 2008. She was third on the team with 315 kills in 33 matches this year. With 30 kills at the UNLV Tournament Sept. 5-6, Hanks was honored with a spot on the all-tournament team.

Leahy also earned her first academic honor. She finished the season fourth on the team with 300 kills as she moved into the starting lineup after spending her first two seasons primarily as a backup. After recording 24 kills and 27 digs during Miami’s run to the MAC Tournament Semifinals, Leahy was honored with a place on the All-Tournament Team.

Miami finished the 2008 season with a 21-12 record. The RedHawks earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament where they fell in a five-set match to Middle Tennessee State in the first round.