NEWARK, NJ – NJIT senior libero Sabrina Baby was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America third-team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Baby, a native of Brazil who plays libero (a position that specializes in defensive play), is the NCAA Division I national individual leader with 6.27 digs per set (608 digs, 97 sets).

As one of 18 women's volleyball student-athletes honored this year as an Academic All-America, the NJIT senior with a 3.91 cumulative grade point average as a business major with a concentration in finance and marketing, becomes the first Highlander student-athlete in any sport to receive Academic All-America laurels at the Division I level.

NJIT is in its first academic year as a postseason championship-eligible active member of NCAA Division I. In the previous three seasons, NJIT teams faced Division I competition but were not eligible for postseason championships or for inclusion in the national statistical rankings.

Baby, who was named to the Great West Conference Defensive Player of the Year, started all 27 matches this season for the Highlanders, recording double-figures in each contest. Baby earned Great West Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors three times this season.

She holds the NJIT Division I school record for digs in a four-set match (45) and digs in a five-set match with (42).

To close out Baby's career, she holds the NJIT Division I school-records for: career digs (2,284), digs posted in a season (2008; 795), career services aces (189) and  service aces (71) in a season (2008).

To be named an Academic All-American, a student athlete had to have been selected to its District's first team. Initial nomination criteria at the District level includes being a varsity starter or key reserve, maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, reaching sophomore athletic and academic standing at his current institution and be nominated by their sports information director.