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BLACKSBURG - Virginia Tech softball player Courtney Liddle has been named to the 2011 Capital One Academic All-District III Second Team for the University Level as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. The awards recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performance on the field and in the classroom.

The Haymarket, Va., native was selected as one of the four infielders on the 11-person team and was one of just two sophomores. She joins four other ACC student-athletes to make the first or second team.

Liddle has started 46 games this season, 36 at first base, seven at catcher and three as the designated player. She is second on the team in batting average with a .366 clip and also has 12 doubles, six home runs and 43 runs batted in.

Majoring in communication, Liddle was named to the 2010 All-ACC Academic Softball Team and meets the requirement of a minimum of 3.30 cumulative GPA to make the squad.

This is the 17th time a Tech softball player has made the all-district squad, coming from 11 different players. Freshmen are not eligible for the award, so the most times a player can make it is three. Michelle Meadows and Angela Tincher both made it three times for the Hokies with both eventually earning Academic All-America honors. For a full list of award winners from Tech, click here.

Nominations and voting for the All-America programs are conducted by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America. There is a University Division (Division I programs) and a College Division (DII, DIII, NAIA, NJCAA programs).

Two Academic All-District teams are chosen in each district, with those on the All-District first teams placed on the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration.

The Virginia Tech softball team wrapped up its regular season Thursday night with a sweep of Appalachian State and now begins preparations for the upcoming ACC Championship next weekend in Atlanta. Tech is 37-19 overall and will play at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night in the first round against a to-be-determined opponent.

For updates on Virginia Tech softball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Softball).