IRVING, Texas -Five Colorado tennis players were named to the 2008 Academic All-Big 12 Tennis Team on Tuesday.

CU placed three on the first team and two on the second. Overall, the Buffaloes and Texas Tech tied for a Big 12-high five selections.

CU seniors Gleisy Torres Torres and Veera Nurmi, and sophomore Camila Belassi all earned first team honors; while juniors Franziska Jendrian and Monica Milewski earned second team accolades.

Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, first-team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better grade-point average, and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify, players must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters, and must have participated in 60 percent of his/her team's scheduled contests.

Torres Torres, a native of Venezuela who is majoring in broadcast news with a minor in ethnic studies, has garnered first team honors for three consecutive years (2007-08, 2006-07, 2005-06).

Nurmi, from Finland, is majoring in geography with a minor in Scandinavian Studies, and earned her second straight first team honor (2007-08, 2006-07).

Belassi, a sophomore from Paysandu, Uruguay, earned her first team honor and is majoring in linguistics.

Nelson honored

CU senior Billy Nelson was selected the Big 12 Track & Field Athlete of the Week.

Nelson, a Bakersfield, Calif. native, won the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 8 minutes, 41.99 seconds and took seventh overall at the prestigious Mt. Sac Relays on Friday night. He was the only collegiate harrier in his section.

The mark is the best in the conference and Midwest region; it also ranks second on the national performance list.

The Buffs will host the 2008 Big 12 Outdoor Track & Field Championships on May 16-18 at Potts Field. Nelson is the reigning Big 12 Champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.