Feb. 18, 2009

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Senior Gulce Nazli Dikecligil (Istanbul, Turkey) of volleyball, junior Alex Felce (Stroud, England) of men's cross country and sophomore Holly Van Dalen (Wanganui, New Zealand) of women's cross country were named America East Scholar Athletes today, according to a release from the conference. The trio of Seawolves were three of the six student-athletes from around the conference that were honored today, as only one athlete was chosen to represent each of the six championship sports the America East offers in the fall season.

Dikecligil, a 5'10'' outside hitter for the Seawolves volleyball team, finished a stellar four-year career at Stony Brook ranked fifth all-time in career aces (202) and eighth in career kills (936). Her 71 aces this season ranked fourth all-time in school history and her average of 0.66 aces per set led all NCAA Division I players. She led the conference with 389 kills this season and was named to the America East All-Conference second team and America East All-Academic team. A biomedical engineering major, Dikecligil has a 3.42 GPA and has been named to the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll each of the past two seasons.

Felce, a three-year member of the men's cross country and track teams, crossed second in the America East Cross Country Championships this season, getting edged by teammate Tim Hodge by just two seconds. Felce went on to finish 30th at the NCAA Northeast Regional and was named to the America East All-Conference team for the third-straight season. He is a mechanical engineering major with a 3.47 GPA, a two-time All-Academic selection and was named to the America East Academic Honor Roll earlier this year.

Just a sophomore, Van Dalen made her mark this season, crossing second at the America East Cross Country Championships, leading her team to their second-straight title. She then finished 12th at the NCAA Northeast Regional and 103rd at the NCAA Championships. Van Dalen was named to the America East All-Conference team and All-Academic team. An arts & sciences major with a 3.73 GPA, Van Dalen has been named to the Dean's List in each of her three semesters and was named to the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll this year as well.