NORFOLK, Va. – Four members of the Norfolk State bowling team were honored by the National Tenpin Coaches Association this week when they were named to the NTCA All-Academic Team, the organization announced.

Seniors Courtney Brown, Ashley Buck and Kelsea Yarbrough and freshman Meagan Marciano were each named honorable mention all-academic for having a GPA of 3.40 or better for the 2014-15 school year. A total of 163 student-athletes from 32 institutions garnered all-academic honors from the NTCA this season.

It marks the fourth time in her four-year career Buck earned the all-academic distinction. Brown was honored for the second time during her NSU career, while Yarbrough and Marciano each picked up their first NTCA all-academic distinction.

The Spartan program has had bowlers named all-academic a total of 17 times during the last five years. In addition to this season, NSU also had four bowlers earn that distinction in 2013.

Yarbrough ranked third on the team with a 180.7 average in 43 games. Brown (177.2 in 40 games) and Buck (173.3 in 32 games) also saw regular time in the lineup, while Marciano competed in one traditional game and six Baker games altogether.

The Spartans finished 60-38 this year and were the runners-up at the MEAC Championship, falling to UMES by a 4-3 score in the tournament final. NSU will lose six of the nine bowlers who competed last year.

Bowlers who qualified academically and received votes in the NTCA All-America voting were eligible for either the first, second or third all-academic teams. Every other bowler with at least a 3.40 GPA was named honorable mention.