March 5, 2008

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Junior Lauren Beaudreau and sophomore Katie Sieben were named to the Atlantic 10 Swimming & Diving Academic All-Conference Team that was announced by the league office Wednesday. The pair helped lead the Spiders to their record seventh-consecutive conference title in Buffalo, N.Y.

A native of Lafayette, Calif., Beaudreau is an All-Academic selection for the second consecutive season. The junior, who was named the 2007 A-10 Performer of the Year, won gold medals in six of the seven events she swam at the 2008 A-10 Championships - the 200 medley relay (1:44.02), the 800 free relay (7:28.97), the 200 IM (2:02.05), the A-10 record setting 400 medley relay (3:46.54), the 200 breast (2:15.73) and the 400 free relay (3:26.02). In the 100 breast she donned the silver (1:03.78).

The criminal justice major owns a 3.25 GPA and is also a member of the A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll.

Sieben, who is currently preparing for her first-ever appearance in the NCAA National Championship in two weeks, claimed her first career A-10 Academic All-Conference honor. The sophomore from Seymour, Conn. won five gold medals and a pair of silvers at the 2008 Championships. The 2007 A-10 Rookie of the Year won the 50 free (23.56), the 200 medley relay (1:44.02), the 100 fly (55.19), the 400 medley relay that set an A-10 record (3:46.54) and the 400 free relay (3:26.02). Sieben's silvers came in the 200 free relay (1:34.63) and the 100 free (51.46).

A business administration major, Sieben owns a 3.46 GPA and is also a member of the A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll.

Sieben and Beaudreau join eight other women's swimmers and divers on the A-10 on the Academic All-Conference Team. Duquesne's Melissa Johnson was selected as the women's swimming and diving Student-Athlete of the Year.