Raphael Vieira became just the third student-athlete in Park University athletics history to be named a Capital One Academic All-American.

TOWSON, Md. | Park University men's volleyball senior Raphael Vieira added to his collection of awards on Monday by becoming just the third student-athlete in the history of Park athletics to be named a Capital One Academic All-American, presented by CoSIDA.

Vieira earned a spot on the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America College Division Men's At-Large Second Team for his work on and off the court.

Vieira (Porto Alegre, Brazil) was just one of 15 student-athletes from across the NAIA to be awarded with the honor on the second team and one of just three men's volleyball players from across the country to earn a spot on either the first, second or third team.

Each student-athlete is nominated by his or her teams Sports Information Director and must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale at his/her current institution.

Nominated athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team’s games at the position listed.

In his second year at Park, Vieira helped lead the Pirates to its third Tachikara-NAIA Men’s Volleyball National Invitational Tournament championship in school history on April 14 in a four set victory over No. 1 ranked St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.

Vieira averaged 0.67 service aces per set throughout the national tournament which led all players at the tourney.

On the season, Vieira collected 21 kills and was second on the team in service aces with 27.

The 2012 Capital One Academic All‐America ® Men’s At‐Large Teams, are selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America, and have been released to recognize the nation’s top student‐athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.

Capital One became the entitlement rights holder to CoSIDA’s Academic All‐America teams programs in 2011.

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