WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. --- Tusculum College libero Caitlyn Dean has been named to the 2013 Capital One NCAA Division II Academic All-District 3 Volleyball First Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Dean, a senior from Fort Wayne, Ind., is majoring in nursing as she returns to the Academic All-District team for a second straight year. Dean advances to the Capital One Academic All-America® ballot, which will be announced next month.

Dean has established herself as one of the greatest defensive players at her position in NCAA II history. Her 2,994 career digs are the third most in DII history and 113 shy of the record held by Holly Morgan of Tiffin University (3,107 from 2003-06). Dean's 6.91 career digs per set average is a TC and SAC record and second highest ever by a NCAA II player.

This year, she leads the South Atlantic Conference in digs, averaging 6.06 per set, which is the sixth-best average in the nation.

She is a two-time All-America First Team selection (2010, 2011) and multi All-SAC and All-Region First Team choice. She has also been named the Tusculum Female Athlete of the Year the last two seasons and is a multi-SAC Specialist of the Week recipient.

She was the NCAA Division II National Statistical Champion for digs per set during her freshman and junior campaigns. Dean has led the Pioneers to three straight trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament, including last season when TC posted a 24-8 record and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in program history. In 2013, the Pioneers are 17-7 overall and 12-5 in league play. TC is currently second in the conference and ranked fourth in the NCAA II Southeast Region.

Dean is a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll and the Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll.

Of the six-person All-District team, four represent the South Atlantic Conference including the Anderson University duo of Meghan Cautero and Shannon Gillespie as well as Samantha Parrish of Newberry College.

Members of the Capital One Academic All-District 3 Team are selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), which includes all colleges and universities in the South Atlantic Conference, Conference Carolinas and Peach Belt Conference.

- TC -

Capital One Academic All-District 3 Volleyball Team
Name, School
Marissa Baker, UNC Pembroke
Meghan Cautero, Anderson (S.C.)
Caitlyn Dean, Tusculum
Shannon Gillespie, Anderson (S.C.)
Kelsey Griffitts, King (Tenn.)
Samantha Parrish, Newberry