The 2011 Suffolk University softball team was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top-10 All-Academic team list for the 2010-11 academic year, having posted a 3.558 team grade-point average.

The Rams' softball team's cumulative grade-point average ranked fifth among NCAA Division-III softball programs in the nation.

Four players on the roster made the Dean's High Honors list with GPAs of 3.7 or higher for the spring semester. Two of those four -- senior Monica Cioffi and sophomore Mandi Thornton -- earned a perfect 4.0.

Five additional softball players earned Dean's Honors for the spring semester with GPAs of at least 3.30.

During the off season in fall 2010, all team members enrolled at the Boston campus achieved grade-point averages of at least 3.0, while seven earned Dean's High Honors.

"Diligence and commitment"

"I am very proud of what our team was able to accomplish last year in the classroom," said Head Coach Keri Lemasters. "It is a major commitment being a student-athlete at the collegiate level. I appreciate the diligence our student-athletes demonstrated towards balancing their dual responsibilities as well as the commitment of their professors and support staff here at the institution in allowing them to achieve such high academic success."

The softball team also was recognized by the Great Northeast Athletic Conference for its academic achievement last season, with six players making the league's Academic All-Conference team. To be eligible a student-athlete must have completed one full academic year and maintained a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 of above.