Courtesy of Bob Heller, USP SID

PHILADELPHIA, PA - University of the Sciences sophomore middle hitter Christine Puschak was amongst the six female student-athletes named to the 2008 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Women's Volleyball Team as announced on Sunday.

The Philadelphia Area All-Academic Teams are voted on by the members of the Philadelphia Area Sports Information Directors Association (Philly-SIDA).  To be eligible for selection, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically, attend one of the 28 Philadelphia area colleges and universities and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0. 

Puschak (Conestoga Valley High School/Leola, Pa.) earned a spot on this year's team with a 3.91 grade point average and was the only sophomore and only area Division II player to be voted in, joining one Division I and four Division III honorees.  All six members of the 2008 team had grade point averages of 3.74 or higher.

The second-year pharmacy major earned Dean's List honors in each of her first two semesters and was inducted last spring into the Alpha Lambda Delta freshman honor society.

Puschak led USP this season in kills (247), kills/set (2.35), service aces (48) and hitting percentage (.246) and was second on the team in total blocks as the Devils compiled an 11-18 record.  Christine finished the season ranking ninth in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) in hitting percentage and eighth in kills.

Named CACC Rookie of the Year and Honorable Mention All-Conference in 2007, Puschak has been one of USP's offensive leaders in each of her two seasons.  Career-wise, Puschak ranks sixth on the Devils' all-time lists in kills (559) and aces (116).

Joining Puschak on the 2008 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Volleyball team are Lisa Bifulco of Immaculata College, Julie Grochowski of Rutgers-Camden, Erin Healey of Swarthmore College, Jackie Morrison of Temple University and Lizzie Williams of Cabrini College.  Healey was the 2008 Volleyball All-Area Performer of the Year. Williams is the only repeat member of the team.

The former Conestoga Valley High School athlete has completed her second season of play for USP. Puschak is majoring in Pharmacy while pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.