CLEVELAND - Building off the academic successes of Delta State University's fall and winter sports, the Statesmen and Lady Statesmen placed six student-athletes on the Gulf South Conference's All-Academic Spring Team, while 33 student-athletes received GSC Academic Honor Roll.  Headlining this spring's recipients were unanimous selections Jason Coats (Baseball) and Brittany Eikner (Softball). 

"We're very proud of the hard work and effort our student-athletes put into their careers here at Delta State and Wednesday's announcement shows it's paying off," Jeremy McClain, DSU director of athletics, stated.

Joining Coats and Eikner on the All-Academic Team were Cody Kelley (Baseball), Edie Oliver (Softball), Cecile Benzaki (Tennis) and Lisa Jamais (Tennis). 

Coats, a 6-foot-2, 200 pound right-handed pitcher, turned in a memorable senior season for coach Mike Kinnison and the Statesmen, going 7-1 with a 3.17 ERA in 13 appearances for the green-and-white. 

The Starkville native and 2010 Gulf South Conference First Team All-West Division selection also excelled in the classroom, compiling a 3.92 GPA in biology/pre-dental.  He finished his career 9-1 overall with a 2.89 ERA in 23 career appearances and 14 starts.

Kelley, a 5-foot-10, 205 pound right-handed pitcher, closed out a memorable career for the Statesmen this season with a 7-1 overall record.  He finished his career 18-4 with a 4.31 ERA, with 58 career appearances, ranking seventh all-time in DSU history.  The Louisville native also dominated in the classroom, posting a 3.52 GPA in business. 

Eikner, the 2010 Charles S. Kerg Senior Female Student-Athlete of the Year at DSU, was one of a handful of unanimous choices for the GSC Spring All-Academic Team.  The Grenada native is a three-time GSC All-Academic Team recipient and four-time GSC Academic Honor Roll nominee. 

The three-time All-GSC selection capped her career as one of DSU's all-time greats on the field and in her field of study - posting a perfect 4.00 GPA in mathematics. 

Oliver, a three-time All-GSC selection for the Lady Statesmen softball team, closed her career after posting a record of 14-16 with a meager 2.12 E.R.A. The Eupora native ranks third all-time with 51 career wins in the circle at DSU.  She finished her academic campaign with a 3.34 in biology.  

It was another banner year for Benzaki, who was named the 2008 and 2010 GSC West Player of the Year, as the Marseille, France native led the Lady Statesmen back to the semifinals of the GSC Championships and finished the season with an 13-6 overall record in both singles and doubles.

Jamais, a sophomore from Reunion Island, France, is a repeat All-GSC First Team selection after making the 2009 squad. Jamais posted an 12-5 overall singles record, while turning in a 10-7 doubles mark.

The tennis tandem also fared well in the academic arena, as Benzaki closed her career with a 3.67 GPA in international business, while Jamais has a 3.27 GPA in business through her junior season. 

In all 33 Delta State spring student-athletes received GSC Academic Honor Roll accolades.  A student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA to be eligible and one must carry at least a 3.25 GPA to be eligible for the All-Academic Team. 

GSC SPRING ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL - BASEBALL
?Cody Kelley, SR - Business 3.54
Jason Coats, SR - Pre-Med 3.87
Chase Blanchard, SR - Business 3.31
James Denton, SR - Business 3.50
Toby Easterly, SR - Business 3.17
Josh Gordon, SR - HPER 3.03
Nathan Hardy, JR - Business 3.16
Cade Hoggard, SR - Business 3.16
Jordan Moore, SO - HPER 3.26
Hunter Palasini, JR - Business 3.73
Patrick Strack, JR - Business 3.47

GSC SPRING ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL - GOLF
??Austin Smithers, SR - Business 3.91     

GSC SPRING ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL - SOFTBALL
?Brittany Eikner, SR - Mathematics     4.00      
Chelsea Carr, SR - HPER     3.08      
Brittany Gonzales, FR - Biology     3.16      
Emily Hearn, JR - International Business     3.67      
Kim Hensley, SR - Exercise Science     3.03      
Taylor Hughes, FR - HPER     3.66      
Kate Moreland, SR - Education     3.11      
Edie Oliver, SR - Psychology     3.34      
Anna Wesleigh Riggs, FR - Education     3.17      
Paige Silverthorn, JR - Education     3.36      
Kendall Sizemore, FR - Business     3.63     

GSC SPRING ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL - WOMEN'S TENNIS
Cecile Benzaki, SR - Business 3.67
Tatiana Bouchaud, SR - Business 3.09
Amanda Corneilison, JR - Business 3.26
Lisa Jamais, JR - Psychology 3.26
?
GSC SPRING ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL - MEN'S TENNIS
?Marco Heinzelmann, JR - Business 3.44
Brenden Keeling, FR - HPER 3.48
Gui Russo, JR - Business 3.42
Cristian Serrano-Garcia, JR - Business 3.34
Alexandre Waeters, JR - Business 3.00
Guillaume Waeters, JR - Business 3.67