Oct. 10, 2007

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - The Lewis University softball team has placed third in the nation among NCAA Division II programs in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's annual listing of All-Academic Teams.

The Flyers posted a cumulative team GPA of 3.57 for the 2006-07 academic year, improving one spot from last year's fourth-place showing. Lewis has now cracked the top 10 six times in the past seven years.

Lewis and Grand Valley State (fourth place) were the only two teams from the Great Lakes Region to be listed among the top 30 schools. The next highest-listed school from the Great Lakes Valley Conference was Rockhurst in 33rd place.

Grand Canyon (3.633) and Emporia State (3.631) were the only two teams to finish ahead of the Flyers. Lewis' highest showing ever was second place finish during the 2000-01 school year.

Lewis finished its season ranked No. 15 in the national poll and posted a school-record 20-game win streak en route to a 34-14 campaign in 2007. The Flyers earned the program's eighth NCAA tournament appearance and hosted the Great Lakes Regional for the first time since 2001. Lewis finished second in the conference standings after falling in the conference championship to eventual national champion Southern Illinois Edwardsville.