CHANDLER, Ariz. – Simmons College field hockey first year Sarah Douglas (Woodstock, Conn.) and sophomores Julie Kellndorfer (Amherst, N.H.) and Kiera Kirkaldy (Middlebury, Vt.) were named 2015 ZAG Field Hockey/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III Scholars of Distinction honorees, it was announced by the NFHCA today.
Student-athletes selected as Scholars of Distinction have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.90 or higher through the first semester of the 2015-16 academic year.
Simmons is one of just 17 NCAA Division III institutions to boast at least three Scholars of Distinction this year.
Kellndorfer earns the accolade for the second straight year after earning a perfect 4.0 for the 2015 Fall semester. Kirkaldy also posted a perfect GPA for the semester.
The trio was a big part of the Sharks being recognized for the 2015 ZAG Field Hockey/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Collegiate National Academic Team Award for the 15th consecutive year after posting a team GPA of 3.52.
Douglas appeared in six matches during her rookie campaign with Simmons, while Kellndorfer saw time in five contests from the backline and Kirkaldy patrolled the midfield in seven games.
In addition, the Sharks placed 13 student-athletes on the ZAG Field Hockey/NFHCA Division III National Academic Squad by virtue of registering a 3.30 or higher GPA and were recognized as a team for the 2015 ZAG Field Hockey/NFHCA Collegiate National Academic Team Award for the 15th consecutive year after posting a team GPA of 3.52.
Simmons finished the season with a 14-5 record, while winning the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship for the second straight season. The Sharks advanced to the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, but fell to State University of New York at New Paltz, 1-0, on November 11, 2015. For the first time in program history, Simmons boasted the Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year as well as a pair of First Team All-Region selections and seven All-Conference honorees.