March 2, 2009
IOWA CITY, IA – – The University of Iowa field hockey team has received the 2008 NFHCA National Team Academic Award. The award recognizes programs that achieved a team grade-point average of at least 3.0 during the first semester of the 2008-09 academic year. This season marks the second-straight year the Hawkeyes have received the team honor.
“I am very pleased with the team’s academic performance this past fall,” said Head Coach Tracey Griesbaum. “They have a team goal every semester and they achieved this marker. It is the highest team GPA for a semester that we have had in over seven years. I am extremely proud of this accomplishment and am appreciative that our coaches association recognizes such excellence.”
In addition, four Hawkeyes have been named to the 2008 NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad. The award recognizes those student-athletes who achieved a GPA of 3.30 or higher through the first semester of the 2008-09 academic year. Freshman Becca Spengler, junior Tricia Dean and seniors Lissa Munley and Lauren Pfeiffer were all named to the squad. Both Munley and Pfeiffer are four-time recipients of the award, earning the honor each year they were at Iowa.
The accolades continue to pour in, as the 2008 Hawkeyes finished 18-5 after advancing to the National Semifinals.