Christensen, Elstein Named Second Team Academic All-District

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia fourth year swimmer Mei Christensen and classmate Lauren Elstein, a member of the field hockey team, were both named to the women’s at-large second team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District squad, announced Thursday by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Christensen, a native of Reston, Va., was tabbed the ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women’s swimming. She earned her second consecutive ACC Women’s Swimmer of the Year honor and was a seven-time All-ACC performer and five-time All-American this season. Christensen won both the 100 back and 200 back at the conference championship in addition to taking third-place honors in the 50 free. She also swam the lead leg of four of Virginia’s winning relay teams at the league meet.

At the NCAA Championships, Christensen finished fourth in the 100 back and fifth in the 200 back in addition to being a member of four of Virginia’s All-America relay teams. She served as a team captain for the 2009-10 season and was selected for the Weaver-James-Corrigan Award, a postgraduate scholarship granted by the conference. Christensen will graduate Sunday with a degree in psychology.

Elstein, who hails from Fredericksburg, Va., was honored as the Division I field hockey recipient of the NCAA’s Elite 88 Award in the fall, presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average at the site of a national championship competition. A team captain, Elstein has helped the Cavaliers to their first NCAA semifinal appearance since 1998 and a program record for wins in a season.

A Lawn resident for the 2009-10 academic year, Elstein will graduate Sunday with a degree in economics and a minor in Spanish. She is a four-time NFHCA Academic Team selection as well as a three-time ACC Honor Roll recipient.