Kentucky volleyball players Julie Gagnon and Amy Kaplan were recently recognized as ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV selections. Gagnon, a junior, and Kaplan, a senior, were both named to the third team.

Gagnon, a Wheaton, Ill., native, is an elementary education major with a 3.73 GPA. She was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2004 and has twice been named to the dean?s list at UK. Gagnon is actively involved in community service and spends much of her free time mentoring to students at local schools.

Gagnon, a defensive specialist, ranks second on the team with 2.79 dpg this season. Her total of 229 digs this season has already surpassed her total from her first two years. Gagnon has tallied double-figure digs on 14 occassions this season, including a career-best 18 against Tennessee on Nov. 6.

Kaplan, a Cary, Ill., native, is finishing her degree in education and plans to be a coach and physical education teacher after college. The two-time Academic All-SEC selection has been named to the dean?s list at UK four times. Her cumulative GPA is 3.29.

The 5-10 senior middle blocker is having her best-ever season at UK. She?s one of the top hitters in the Southeastern Conference, hitting .379 in league play and .359 overall. She?s also totaled 271 kills and 75 blocks this season for the 16-9 Wildcats.