May 22, 2009

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara men's water polo senior Matt Adler and sophomore women's golfer Miki Ueoka earned their first academic honor as the pair was named to ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-District VIII teams, it was announced Thursday by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Adler was named to the men's at-large second team, while Ueoka earned women's at-large third team honors.

"Matt is a really hard worker both in the pool and in the classroom," said head water polo coach Keith Wilbur. "He takes his education very seriously. This is a great honor for him and our program."

"As in golf where the numbers don't lie, they also don't lie in the classroom," said head women's golf coach Polly Schulze. "Miki goes about her studies in the same fashion that she gets around a golf course. She knows what she had to do to succeed and she does it. She has academic goals and she chases them with as much focus as she does winning a tournament."

Adler, a native of San Anselmo, is a driver for the Bronco men's water polo team. He saw action in 30 games this season, helping Santa Clara reach as high as No. 12 in the nation for four consecutive weeks. Adler posted 14 assists, 12 steals, 10 goals, eight kick outs and seven field blocks as SCU finished in fourth-place at the WWPA Championships and garnered a No. 15 final national ranking. A finance major, Adler has compiled a 3.85 cumulative grade-point average and was the recipient of the ACWPA Outstanding All-Academic honor.

Matt Adler received All-District VIII second team honors.

Ueoka, a native of Lihue, Hawaii, became the first-ever SCU women's golfer to qualify for the NCAA Regionals. She earned three individual titles in 2008-09, while helping the Broncos to two team titles. Ueoka earned her second West Coast Conference honor as she received first-team All-WCC accolades after tying for second at the WCC Championships in April. She earned her first collegiate title at the Boise State Bronco Invitational (Oct. 13-14) and earned her second title at the Fresno State Golf Classic (Feb. 23-24), after posting the lowest round ever by an SCU women's golfer (68). Her final title of the year came at the Sacramento State Invitational (Mar. 23-24). It was her second straight win and, for her efforts, Ueoka was named the WCC's Player of the Month in February and March. A bio-chemistry major, Ueoka owns a 3.49 cumulative grade-point average.