NEW ORLEANS – The Slippery Rock University men's cross country squad earned All-Academic team honors from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, as announced Thursday in a release from the organization.

In order to be eligible for a team to earn All-Academic honors, the team must maintain above a 3.0 collective grade point average and compile a score (five finishers) at the NCAA Regional Championships.

Slippery Rock, which earned All-Academic honors last season with a 3.05 collective GPA, increased its team GPA to 3.18 following the 2010 fall semester.

"We have always had a proud tradition of excellence both on the course and in the classroom," said head coach John Papa. "I'm very pleased with the efforts put forth by the cross country program this past fall."

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference led all Division II conferences with 10 teams earning All-Academic honors.

Wednesday, the USTFCCCA announced its All-Academic individual honorees, with Eric Geddis, Alex Koksal and Brian Ulrich all earning that distinction.

The Rock placed fourth at both the PSAC and the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship meets this past fall. Slippery Rock will host the 2011 regional meet at its course at Cooper's Lake Campground.