Loyola's Hernandez, Solava Honored as U.S. Army Scholar-Athletes of the Week

Feb. 26, 2009

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INDIANAPOLIS -- Loyola University Chicago thrower Erik Hernandez and softball player Amy Solava have been named U.S. Army Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Week for the week ending Feb. 22, League commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone announced Thursday (Feb. 26).

Hernandez (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago Community), a senior, won the weight throw (15.89 meters) and shot put (15.72) at the UWM Panther Tune-up indoor track and field meet Feb. 20 at Milwaukee. He previously was named the League's Scholar-Athlete of the Week Feb. 6.

In the classroom, Hernandez carries a 3.79 grade-point average as a biology major at Loyola, where he is a member of the school's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He has been named to the Horizon League Track and Field All-Academic Team and the Academic Honor Roll during his career.

Solava (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central), a junior, went 2-1 with an 0.96 earned-run average in 18.2 innings last weekend at the Islander Invitational in Corpus Christi, Texas. She also drove in a pair of runs at the plate as the Ramblers went 3-2 in their first action of the season. Against the University of Pittsburgh, Solava tossed a complete-game one-hitter with four strikeouts and also had one run-batted-in. She then picked up the win versus the University of Dayton by throwing five innings of relief in an 8-2 victory.

An elementary education major, Solava owns a 3.93 grade-point average at Loyola. She has been named to the Horizon League's Academic Honor Roll and is a member of Loyola's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. In addition, she was selected as an NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete last spring and helped the Ramblers earn NFCA All-Academic Team distinction in 2007 and 2008.

The Horizon League instituted the U.S. Army Scholar-Athlete of the Week awards as a way to recognize outstanding academic and athletic achievement by its student-athletes. To be eligible for the honor, a student-athlete must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20 or better (on a 4.00 scale), have completed at least one year at the member institution, passed 24 semester or 36 quarter hours and perform well during the week's competition. Winners are selected by a group of League faculty athletic representatives, from nominations provided by sports information directors.

OTHER MEN'S NOMINEES:
Robo Kreps, UIC (basketball, sophomore, 3.25, exercise and fitness)
Matt Mahler, Detroit (indoor track and field, sophomore, 3.367, education)
Steve Schubert, Valparaiso (indoor track and field, sophomore, 3.86, civil engineering)
Sam Suitca, Cleveland State (baseball, senior, 3.75, communications)
Vytas Sylskis, Youngstown State (basketball, sophomore, 3.21, accounting)

OTHER WOMEN'S NOMINEES:
Launa Hochstetler, Valparaiso (basketball, senior, 3.75, accounting and finance)
Stephanie Jarvis, Youngstown State (indoor track and field, junior, 3.78, integrated math education)
Annie Moore, Detroit (tennis, senior, 3.471, communication studies)