GORHAM, Maine – Sophomore Amelia Beatty (Rochester, N.H./ Spaulding), graduate student Sierra Castonguay (Nottingham, N.H./Dover) and senior Madison Zimmer (Regina, Saskatchewan/Dr. Martin LeBoldus Catholic) of the University of Southern Maine Huskies' women's volleyball team have each earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors. Castonguay is now a three-time honoree and Zimmer has earned the honor twice.  
 
A prestigious honor, all three Husky student-athletes are earning the honor after distinguishing themselves athletically and academically at the University of Southern Maine. To be eligible for the accolade, student-athletes must be a starter or an important reserve with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale), must have participated in at least 90 percent of the team's games, and must be at least a sophomore academically. Graduate students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher as both an undergrad and graduate student-athlete. Student-athletes are nominated for the honor by their institution's Athletic Communications professionals.
 
A Nursing major, Beatty played in 27 of the team's 29 matches and was in the starting lineup five times. She finished fourth on the team in aces per set at 0.34 aces per set and was fifth in aces with 29. She also added 124 digs and reached double figures twice including career-high 14 in a 3-2 loss to Fitchburg State. Beatty has played in 54 matches in her career and was recently named to the Little East Conference Fall All-Academic Team.
 
Castonguay, the Huskies' long-time libero, reached the 1,000 career digs mark this past fall and finished her career third in program history digs per set (3.649) and fifth in total digs (1,288). Her 3.978 digs per set this season is the eighth-highest single-season mark in program history and she finished the season in the top 10 in the conference in digs and digs per set. She also tied for the most aces on the team with 41 and recorded 53 assists. Castonguay completed her undergraduate degree in Health Sciences last spring and is on track to earn her Master's degree in Athletic Training. In addition to her three career Academic All-District honors, she is a four-time LEC All-Academic Team member and a three-time William B. Wise Scholar Athlete. She played in 104 matches over the course of her career.
 
Zimmer, a Political Science major, finished her career second in program history in block assists with 101 and tied for fourth in total blocks with 142.  She set career-highs in kills (120), aces (29), solo blocks (16), block assists (40), and total blocks (56) this season and ranked in the top 10 in the conference in every blocking category. She is also a two-time LEC All-Academic Team member and a two-time William B. Wise Scholar Athlete. She played in 107 matches in her career.
 
Designated Academic All-District student-athlete honorees are eligible for selection to the Academic All-America program. College Sports Communicators began the distinguished Academic All-America® program in 1952, and since then, has honored more than 38,000 deserving student-athletes from numerous sports across all divisions with these elite Academic All-America® scholar-athlete honors.  Currently, CSC sponsors Academic All-America® programs for men's soccer, women's soccer, football, volleyball, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's swimming & diving, women's swimming & diving, men's tennis, women's tennis, baseball, softball and men's and women's track and field/cross country. Many other sports are eligible through the At-Large program, including USM sponsored sports field hockey, golf, ice hockey, and wrestling).