TOWSON, Md. -- Senior Matthew Dellavedova has become the second-ever Saint Mary's student-athlete to earn consecutive Capital One Academic All-America® honors.

The Maryborough, Victoria, Australia native was named second team Academic All-America® today, which follows his first-team selection last season as a junior.  The only other SMC student-athlete to earn the honor twice was Rick Ellyson '96, who was named second-team Academic All-America® in 1995 and 1996.

Dellavedova, the reigning West Coast Conference Player of the Year, is one of three league players honored today.  Joining him on the second team are seniors Ben Averkamp of Loyola University Chicago, Nathan Healy of Appalachian State University, Peyton Siva of Louisville and Andrew Smith of Butler University.

He is also a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award given to the nation's top point guard as well as the Senior CLASS Award, presented to the top senior basketball player for academic, community and athletic excellence.

To be eligible for Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 16,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.

Capital One, an NCAA Corporate Champion, began its affiliation with college sports with the sponsorship of the 2001 Capital One Florida Citrus Bowl (now the Capital One Bowl) and ESPN's Capital One Bowl Week. In addition, Capital One sponsors the ABC College Football Halftime Report, Capital One All-America Mascot team, Capital One Academic All Program, and supports all 89 NCAA Championships including the Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Championships, and numerous other collegiate athletics programs.