BRISTOL, Conn. --- Tusculum College's Nicole Ferris has been named to the 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV College Division Women's Soccer First Team announced officials Thursday.

Ferris now advances to the Academic All-America® ballot, which will be announced later this month.

Ferris, a 5-10 junior defender from Lebanon, Ohio returns to the Academic All-District squad, after earning Second Team honors last season. She has posted a 3.85 cumulative grade point average while majoring in Sports Management.

Ferris, a 2007 Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference selection, has played in all 19 matches this season where she has tallied a goal and added five assists for her seven total points.

She is a member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society and was named the TAPHRED Student of the Year in 2006-07. Ferris is also president of the Physical Education & Sport Studies Club and is serving as a team captain.

The Pioneers have posted a 14-5 record and are currently ranked No. 18 in the nation (NCAA Division II). Tusculum will face top-seeded Lincoln Memorial University in a semifinal match of the 2007 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament, this Friday in Rock Hill, S.C.

Members of the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team are selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America, which include all colleges and universities from Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Ohio and Michigan which comprise District IV.