LA JOLLA, Calif. - Nicole Saari, a senior catcher on the UC San Diego softball team, was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team, officials announced Monday.

As selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), Saari was featured as part of the 12-member College Division squad.

A Roseville, Calif., native, Saari earned California Collegiate Athletic Association honors two weeks ago for the third time in her four-year career. In 2007 she was selected as CCAA Freshman of the Year and named to the All-CCAA First Team. As a junior in 2009, Saari was placed on the All-CCAA Second Team before earning Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II All-Region Second Team honors.

Ranked third all-time in fielding percentage on the Tritons' leaderboard with a .991 mark, Saari put together another strong year behind the plate by fielding .992 in 2010. She ranked second on the UCSD squad this past season in hitting (.371), doubles (11), runs batted in (27), total bases (69), on-base percentage (.425) and slugging percentage (.457).

In the classroom, Saari has compiled a grade-point average of 3.87 while majoring in Communications in Muir College.

To be nominated for the CoSIDA Academic All-District program, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore with a 3.30 cumulative GPA and starter or significant reserve for her team.

The Tritons' season ended at a mark of 30-20, the highest winning percentage in program history since 2001. UCSD missed the postseason after finishing sixth in the CCAA and 10th in the West Region.