On the diamond and the court, athletes from Polk State College’s softball and volleyball teams racked up hits, strikeouts, digs, kills, and aces this past year, but those two programs also racked up something else – As in the classroom.

Polk State Softball and Polk State Volleyball were each recognized last week as an NJCAA Academic Team of the Year. The programs were required to have cumulative team grade-point averages of 3.0 or greater to achieve the distinction.

Polk State Softball collected a cumulative team GPA of 3.12. Outfielder Veronica Fernandez, pitcher/utility Jamie Reinhardt, and infielder Jillian Hudson were each recognized as NJCAA All-Academic selections. Previously, those three along with pitcher Lexie Brian, outfielder Kagan Dudney, and infielder Gianna Scopano were honored as FCSAA All-Academic selections.

“This shows what a great group of kids this was to be around,” Head Coach Kevin Lewis said. “Obviously, we want to win games and excel on the field, but we emphasize that our players work hard in everything that comes with being a student-athlete. I’m very proud of the way they handled themselves in the classroom.”

Polk State Volleyball was named an NJCAA Academic Team of the Year for the second year in a row. As a team, the Eagles boasted a 3.26 GPA for the 2023-24 Academic Year.

Outside hitters Karolina Zubkova and Carolina Guerreiro Cruz along with middle blocker A’lanae Margaritha were each recognized as NJCAA All-Academic selections on Thursday. Joining them previously on the FCSAA All-Academic Team were middle blocker Arianna Garcia, outside hitter Martina Gonzato, setters Ambar Lopez and Carleiny Morillo, and libero Irene Mostardini.

“I’m proud to be a part of the Polk State Volleyball tradition of excellence on the court and in the classroom,” new Head Coach Jessica Beal said. “We’ll continue to work to maintain that standard.”

The two Polk State programs were among 78 FCSAA teams to earn the distinction. Polk State previously had 30 student-athletes recognized on the All-FCSAA Academic Team. Fourteen earned All-NJCAA Academic status.