Courtesy of Bob Heller, USP SID

PHILADELPHIA, PA  (July 20, 2009) - University of the Sciences in Philadelphia women's softball players Brittany Ebersole (Cumberland Valley High School/Camp Hill, Pa.) and Dayna Phillips (Cumberland Regional High School/Rosenhayn, N.J.) have been selected to the 2009 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Softball Team.

Phillips and Ebersole are amongst the ten student athletes selected to the team. The team was voted on by the sports information offices of the 28 area institutions from the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Ebersole, who graduated summa cum laude in May of this year, becomes just the fourth athlete from the University of the Sciences to earn Area All-Academic honors three times, joining Michelle Bauer (Rifle, At-Large); Joy Aifuwa (Women's Cross Country) and Tyler Weisel (Men's Tennis). The former Cumberland Valley High School athlete earned Dean's List honors in all eight semesters and graduated with a degree in pharmaceutical chemistry and a 3.891 cumulative grade point average. Brittany has also been selected to the CACC Spring All-Academic Team three times.  Ebersole started 15 games for the Devils this season, splitting time between third base and designated hitter/player.  Brittany recorded a .220 batting average on the season.

Phillips, a sophomore outfielder, has a 3.738 cumulative g.p.a. as a pre-med/biology major at USP.  The two-time CACC All-Conference athlete was named to the CACC Spring All-Academic Team last season.  As USP's leadoff hitter, Dayna led the team in runs scored (32), stolen bases (16), & OB% (.431) and was second on team in batting avg. (.375) and hits (51).

The former Cumberland Regional High School athlete has 97 career hits in just two seasons of play to rank eighth on the Devils' all-time list and a career batting average of .359.

Ebersole and Phillips are joined on the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Softball Team by joined by Ashley Botelho (Drexel), Lauren Davis (Ursinus), Melissa Fetter (Immaculata), Courtney Norese (Temple), Bethany Pavlik (Delaware Valley), Alisha Prystowsky (University of Pennsylvania), Kristie Sandefur (Cabrini) and Jackie Sasko (Rowan).  Sasko was named the 2009 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Softball Performer of the Year.