--- Tusculum College's Caitlyn Dean has been named to the 2013 Capital One Academic All-America® NCAA Division II Volleyball third team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Dean, a senior libero/defensive specialist from Fort Wayne, Ind., has a cumulative grade point average of 3.33 while majoring in nursing. She becomes only the third Tusculum student-athlete to earn Academic All-America® and All-America honors in the same academic year as Dean was selected to the AVCA All-America Team earlier today.

This marks the third consecutive year that a Tusculum volleyball student-athlete as earned Academic All-America® distinction. Teammate Ashley Sarmiento was named to the Capital One Academic All-America® second team in 2011 and 2012.

Dean led the South Atlantic Conference in digs for a fourth consecutive season, averaging 6.03 per set, which is currently seventh in the nation. The two-time Daktronics All-America first team selection became Division II's all-time digs leader earlier this season. Her 3,184 career digs are the eighth most for all NCAA divisions.

The Northrop High School graduate is second in DII history in career digs per average (6.85 dps) and her 114 career service aces are the seventh most in Tusculum history. During her 124-match career, Dean has accounted for an amazing 40 contests with 30 or more digs, including seven times in 2013. Her 723 total digs this year are the third most in TC history.

Dean is a four-time Daktronics All-Southeast Region and All-South Atlantic Conference first team selection. She is also two-time Capital One Academic All-District first team choice.

Tusculum accounted for a 21-11 record in 2013, including 15-7 in conference play to finish second in the league standings for the third time in the last four years. TC earned the program's fifth straight NCAA II Tournament at-large bid as the Pioneers advanced to the Southeast Regional quarterfinal. TC posted the program's eighth consecutive winning season and the sixth 20-win campaign in the last eight years. Tusculum has recorded 20 more wins on 22 occasions in the storied program's history.

To be eligible for Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America® honors on more than 20,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports. For more information about the Academic All-America® Teams program, please visit www.cosida.com