Duquesne University placed seven student-athletes on the Atlantic 10 Fall Academic All-Conference Teams, as announced by the conference office.
Duquesne, which sponsors five of the six Atlantic 10 fall sports, also had two of its honorees named Student-Athletes of the Year for their respective sports in junior soccer player Terry McNelis (Reading, PA/Exeter Twp.) and senior cross country participant Sam Shea (Pittsburgh, PA/Brentwood).
Duquesne, with seven honorees, was topped only by Massachsuetts which competes in the sixth fall sport, field hockey. The Dukes' two Student-Athletes of the Year was equalled by Rhode Island.
McNelis, who was named second team All-Conference, started all 16 games in goal for the Dukes in 2001, allowing 17 goals in recording a 1.07 goals against average. He also made 77 saves in compiling an .819 save percentage and posted 4.5 shutouts. Prior to the season, McNelis was named to the pre-season All-Conference Team as well as being named the 2000 Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year and a first team All-Conference pick in 1999 and 2000.
Academically, this is his second Academic All-Conference laurel. He was also a 2000 Verizon Academic All-District selection as well as a 2000 Verizon All-America third team honoree. McNelis owns a 3.72 cumulative grade point average in physical therapy.
Shea (right) placed second for Duquesne and 11th overall of 105 runners at the 2001 Verizon Atlantic 10 Championship, marking his third straight top 20 finish at the A-10's. He placed among Duquesne's top five runners in six of seven races this year. Shea's career-best time of 25:26 at the 1998 National Catholic Championship's is Duquesne's second-best time ever.
Academically, this is Shea's third Atlantic 10 laurel, as he was named academic All-Conference in both cross-country and track and field last season. He boasts a 3.88 cumulative grade point average in secondary education.
Other male honorees included McNelis' twin brother Brian McNelis (Reading, PA/Exeter Twp.) and senior cross country harrier Brian Blackburn (Johnstown, PA/Richland) who was last year's A-10 Student-Athlete of the Year. Duquesne also had three women named to teams in senior cross-country standout Tanya Brown (Brampton, Ont./Notre Dame) and volleyball players senior Sherene Lemonias (Scarborough, Ont./R.H. King Academy) and sophomore Sarah Morrow (Baytown, TX/Robert E. Lee).
To be eligible, a student-athlete must have a grade point average of at least 3.00 and be a starter or key reserve on his/her team. The Atlantic 10 Conference's sports information directors conduct the voting. The number of players selected to each team reflects the standard-sized team in that sport. The Student Athlete of the Year is based on athletic and academic performance.
