Colleen Harriger

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- Colleen Harriger (Jr., Erie, Pa./McDowell) of Gannon University became the fifth Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) women's water polo player to garner Academic All-America® honors as she was named to the 2011 Capital One Academic All-America Women's At-Large College Division Second Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

The largest team in the CoSIDA Academic All-America program,  the Women’s At-Large program includes the sports of bowling, crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis and water polo.

A First Team All-District II selection in order to advance to the national ballot, Harriger joins Washington & Jefferson College's Jessica Barby (2010, First Team; 2009, Third Team) and fellow Gannon students Rishae Wood (2004, Third Team) and Sonya Pyle (2004, First Team) as CWPA women's players to garner Academic All-America® honors. 

Her selection brings Gannon's all-time number of Academic All-America® picks through the national program sponsored by CoSIDA to 33.

A 2010 Academic All-District II Third Team selection, the junior has been a key part of Gannon's water polo and swimming teams while posting a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade-point average as a Pre-Med/Biology major. In addition to receiving the NCAA Division II Athletics Directors Association (ADA) Academic Achievement Award last season, she was also named to the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Scholar-Athlete team.

A two-time All-CWPA Western Division second-team selection, Harriger led Gannon in goals (69) and steals (59) this season. She finished sixth nationally in goals per match (2.9) and tied for 14th in total goals. Harriger also tallied 17 earned kick-outs and 20 assists this season.

Her 69 goals in 2011 represent the fourth-highest single-season total in school history. Harriger ranks fourth all-time at Gannon in goals (143), 10th in sprint-offs (12), 11th in assists (58), 12th in earned kickouts (31) and 12th in steals (117).

As a swimmer, Harriger qualified for the PSAC championships in the 200-yard IM and the 400-yard IM. She was part of 10 top-three individual or relay finishes.

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 14,000 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.