SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara beach volleyball continued its strong standard of academic success by having three players recognized for their achievements on the sand and in the classroom this spring. Junior Kirsten Mead was named to the West Coast Conference All-Academic Team, while junior Jensen Cunningham and sophomore Hailey Lindberg earned honorable mention recognition, announced by the WCC on Wednesday.

At the conclusion of each athletic season, the WCC selects an all-academic squad for each conference-sponsored sport. To be considered, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average while also being a significant contributor to her team.

Mead, a business economics major with a 3.94 GPA, is one of only two players to make all-academic team for the second consecutive beach season. The Palo Alto, California native teamed up with Cunningham to go 7-7 in duals and 15-18 in sets at the No. 2 position, including four sweeps. She is a CoSIDA Academic All-America nominee.

Cunningham, a psychology major with a 3.31 GPA, receives an academic honorable mention for the second straight spring. Lindberg, a business marketing major with a 3.34 GPA, scored dual victories for the Broncos against New Mexico and Pacific at the No. 3 spot in 2017.

Since student-athletes must have a varsity letter to be considered, only five Broncos on the 12-player roster — which featured seven newcomers this season — met the initial requirements for academic consideration. More than half of them were honored by the conference.