CHARLESTON, S.C. - The College of Charleston had 22 student-athletes competing in fall sports named to the 2009 Southern Conference Academic All-Conference Team.

The SoCon Academic All-Conference Team is in its seventh year since the conference decided to split the award by season. 2009 marks the highest number of CofC student-athletes that have qualified for the honor since the Southern Conference raised the minimum cumulative grade point average to 3.2.

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must possess at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA and must have competed in at least one-half of their team's competitions during the fall season. Additionally, the student-athlete must have completed at least two semesters at the institution prior to the fall season.

Men's cross country, women's soccer and volleyball led the fall sports with five student-athletes apiece on the academic all-conference team. Men's soccer had four players receive the honor while women's cross country placed three on the team.

The sophomores led the other classes, with eight second-year Cougars receiving academic all-conference status. Six juniors, seven seniors and one graduate student rounded also earned the honor.

Sophomore cross country runner Christian Bailey (Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell) has the highest GPA among the 22 Charleston athletes. Bailey is a sophomore International Business major with a 3.94 GPA. He posted a time of 33:24.63 at in the 10K at the NCAA Southeast Regional Meet to rank ninth all-time in school history.

Eleven Cougars are named academic all-conference for the second straight year while four student-athletes are receiving the honor for the third consecutive year. Men's cross country runner Timothy Faugl (Aiken, S.C./South Aiken), women's soccer player Emily Morgan (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) and volleyball players Emily Sawin (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) and Brooke Truxillo (Roswell, Ga./Marist) are all three-time academic all-conference selections.

The Southern Conference named 318 student-athletes to the academic all-conference team. Elon led all schools with 39 honorees.

Christian Bailey   So.  Men's Cross Country       3.94 International Business
Elyse Chubb       So.   Volleyball                     3.60 Real Estate
Jennifer Darty     Sr.   Volleyball                     3.32 Communications Studies
Alyssa D'Orazio   So.  Women's Cross Country   3.55 Undecided
Timothy Faugl          Sr.   Men's Cross Country       3.37  Physics
Justin Fojo         Jr.    Men's Soccer                3.84 Physical Education
Clark Hankins      So.   Men's Soccer                3.32 Undecided
Jake Helmig        R-Jr. Men's Soccer                 3.55 Business Administration
Kristin Jenkins     Jr.   Women's Cross Country    3.89 Math
David Lamberson So. Men's Cross Country         3.49 Undecided
Emily Morgan      Sr.  Women's Soccer             3.80 Pyschology
Steven Nagy     R-Sr. Men's Soccer                 3.83 Science and Math for Teachers
Annie Pease      Jr.    Women's Soccer             3.70 History
Ginny Phillips      Jr.   Volleyball                       3.31 Hospitality & Tourism Management
Callen Powers    So.  Women's Cross Country    3.50 Undecided
Amanda Raymond Jr. Women's Soccer             3.70 Biochemistry
Eric Robertson    So.  Men's Cross Country       3.65 Biology
Emily Sawin        Sr.  Volleyball                      3.70 Biochemistry
David Thomas     Sr.   Men's Cross Country       3.35 Physical Education
Brooke Truxillo     Sr. Volleyball                       3.89 Business Marketing
Sarah Wiggers     Sr. Women's Soccer             3.35 History
Hannah Gmerek   So. Women's Soccer            3.25 Undecided