Nov. 5, 2009

UMass Lowell seniors Nichole Rondeau (Dracut, MA) and Jamie Gillis (North Billerica, MA), along with junior Jillian Hadder (Yucaipa, CA), were named to the ESPN The Magazine District 1 All-Academic Teams, released Thursday.

Rondeau and Hadder, both standouts on the UMass Lowell volleyball team, were cited to the District 1 Volleyball Third Team while Gillis was cited to the Women’s Soccer District 1 Third Team.

The teams are voted upon by members of the College Sports Information Directors’ of America (CoSIDA).

A mechanical engineering major, Rondeau has maintained a sterling grade point average of 3.77 while Hadder maintains a 3.59 GPA in psychology. The two had helped lead UMass Lowell to a stellar year thus far as the River Hawks are currently 18-9 overall and 10-4 in the Northeast-10 Conference, good for fourth place.

UMass Lowell wraps the regular season Friday night at home against Assumption (7:00) and hosts the NE-10 Tournament Friday, Nov. 13 and Saturday, Nov. 14. The top eight teams advance to the NE-10 Tournament.

A setter, Rondeau has compiled averages of 8.68 assists, 2.05 digs per game and 31 service aces. She ranks seventh among NE-10 assist leaders.

One of UMass Lowell’s top outside hitters, Hadder has registered 2.48 kills, 2.62 digs and 0.43 blocks per game. Together, Rondeau and Hadder have fueled an offense which ranks third among NE-10 kill leaders (12.13) and fifth in team hitting percentage (.202).

Gillis has enjoyed a special year which continues this afternoon in the NE-10 Tournament semifinal at Franklin Pierce (4:00).

An exercise physiology major, Gillis has maintained a 3.41 grade point average while leading the women’s soccer team (12-4-3) to what could be its best-ever season. Gillis sports a 0.35 goals against average, a .905 save rate (67 saves, seven goals conceded) and 13 shutouts.

Along the way, Gillis maintained streak of 1,333 minutes without allowing a goal to set an NCAA Division II record. Among national leaders, She ranks fifth in goals against average, sixth in save percentage while the River Hawks collectively rank tied for seventh in shutout percentage (.684, 13 shutouts, 19 matches).

The honor is the latest of several for Gillis, who was named the NE-10 Goalkeeper of the Year for the season successive year last Friday.

The women’s soccer team is expected to be named to the NCAA Tournament East Regional field, to be announced Monday at 7:00.