FRANCESCATTO HONORED FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

RICHMOND, Va. – Former Virginia Commonwealth University volleyball star Ludmila Francescatto has been selected as a recipient of the Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award in the Department of Biology for 2008.

Francescatto, a biology major, served as an undergraduate assistant coach for the Rams this season after an outstanding two-year run in a VCU uniform.

A 5-11 outside hitter, Francescatto was a two-time All-Colonial Athletic Association First Team pick, and earned two AVCA All-East Region Honorable Mention nods in 2005-06.

Francescatto was the catalyst behind VCU’s CAA-Championship run in 2005, ripping 26 kills to lead the Rams past Towson in the conference title match. She was named the Most Outstanding Player of the CAA Tournament for her efforts.

She also set the school’s single-season kills mark, blasting 549 during her senior year in 2006.

Prior to transferring to VCU, Francescatto starred at Arizona Western College in, Yuma, Ariz., where she enjoyed a Junior College All-America career from 2003-04.