April 24, 2007

Irving, Texas - Four University of Missouri women's tennis players were selected to the 2007 Academic All-Big 12 First Team Tuesday; seniors Amanda Pratzel, Erika Josbena and Yelena Olshanskaya, and junior Charlotte Bellis. The Tigers had the third most First Team selections, behind Iowa State and Oklahoma, who each had five. There were 32 members of the First Team.

For Pratzel, it is her first Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection. The nutrition and fitness major from St. Louis, Mo., was not eligible last season because she was in her first academic year at Mizzou after transferring from Missouri State.

This is Josbena's third selection to the First Team. The interdisciplinary studies major from Rose Valley, Pa. plans to attend pharmacy school after she graduates from Mizzou next fall.

Olshanskaya also earned First Team honors for the third time in her career. Olshanskaya missed the entire season due to an injury, but she is exempt from the participation quota because she is a senior. She is studying secondary education at Mizzou.

Junior Charlotte Bellis earns her first Academic All-Big12 Team selection. This is her last season with the Tigers, as she will graduate from the Missouri School of Journalism after only three years.

To qualify for Academic All-Big 12 honors, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of her team's scheduled contests.

First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible. The teams are nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices.

The Tigers will travel to Kansas City for the Big 12 Championships, which get underway Thursday.