Two Lindenwood student-athletes were named first-team ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District on Thursday. Men's volleyball player Mike Emerick was selected all-district for the second straight year in the men's at-large category, and women's ice hockey player Amanda Blanc earned the honor for the first time in the women's at-large category.

Emerick, a junior libero, was a second-team academic all-district selection last season. This year, he led the NAIA with 3.51 digs a game and had a .955 passing percentage. He was named the Conference Libero of the Year for the second straight season and helped Lindenwood to another 20-win season. He played in all 34 matches and had 25 double-figure dig matches, including five with 20 or more.

Emerick recently graduated from Lindenwood with a finance degree. He was named the 2009 NAIA Men's Volleyball Sportsman of the Year and helped the Lions win the national championship that year.

Blanc was a senior defenseman on the 2010 national championship Lady Lion squad. She played in 46 games and collected one goal, 14 assists, and a +19 rating. She helped the defense allow just 1.26 goals a game and have 21 shutouts. She was also a key defender on Lindenwood's penalty kill, which allowed just 17 goals in 194 chances.

Blanc recently graduated with a multimedia degree. In two years as a Lady Lion, she helped the team win two national championships and had six goals, 24 assists, and a +63 rating.

Emerick and Blanc will now advance to the national ballot for consideration for Academic All-American honors. The Academic All-American ballots are voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America.