Dec. 25, 2007

Kansas City, Kan. - Grand Valley State continued to earn honors due to its incredible 21-1-1 season this year. Sue Christenson and Katy Tafler both earned First Team Academic All-American honors, while Emily Berner was named to the third team. The Lakers have already claimed numerous awards this postseason, including Christenson and Tafler, who had previously garnered all-american plaudits. Christenson and Tafler are two of just six Division II players that earned both All-American honors and Academic All-American plaudits.

Christenson earned the award while maintaining a 3.32 grade-point average in physical education. On the field, she became Grand Valley State's all-time leader in games played (85) after the team's Final Four match against Tampa on Nov. 29. Last season, she was a member of the NSCAA Great Lakes Region Second Team. This year, she was a first team all-region selection on her way to becoming a third-team all-american. Christenson anchored a Grand Valley defense that allowed only 10 goals all season long, culminating in the only match that the Lakers allowed more than one goal in all year long, a 2-1 loss to Tampa.

Tafler, a biomedical sciences major, has maintained a 3.86 grade-point average, all the while dominating Division II. She led Division II in goals per game (1.57) and points per game (3.70) for the second year in a row. She is a two-time NSCAA First Team All-American and a three-time member of the NSCAA Great Lakes Region First Team. Tafler set school records for goals (36) and points (85) this season, and is GVSU's career leader in goals (94) and points (216). Her 28 assists put her third on GVSU's all-time charts.

Berner was a Second Team Great Lakes Region selection this season. Berner finished her career 10th on GVSU's all-time games played list at 74 and was a key cog in the dominating defense that defined the Lakers all season long. In addition, Grand Valley State earned the NSCAA/adidas Women's Team Academic Award. Under head coach Dave DiIanni, the Lakers compiled a team GPA of 3.40.