NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University women's rugby team resumed its successful 2023-24 campaign with a collection of academic honors, with nine student-athletes earning placement on the 2023-24 National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) All-Academic Team, announced by the organization on Friday afternoon.

Joey Abrantes, Shannon Hobbs, Rebecca Klements, Lilian Lu, Jenifer Nicolas Ramirez, Kiley O'Brien, Siobhan O'Donnell, Nicole Perault, and Amanda Uggalla were all recognized by the NIRA for their strong performances on the pitch and in the classroom.

The nine athletes represent eight different majors at Norwich.  Eligible nominees must be at least a sophomore athletically and academically, and must maintain at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average or better.

Norwich's nine athletes matches the same number as American International College, Dartmouth College, and Warren Wilson College.  190 different athletes from 20 different institutions were honored, with Queens University of Charlotte leading the way behind 19 honorees.

The 2023-24 campaign was a successful one for the Cadets under first-year head coach Baylee Annis, who spearheaded to the Cadets to a thrilling win over the University of New Haven in 15's action before Norwich captured a pair of crowns in the Chris Munn 7s Tournament and the Polar Bear 7s Tournament in 7's play in the spring.

The women's rugby team will continue its success into the summer, as Hobbs, alongside Kate Desautels, Alyssa Gioia, and Octavia Crawford, will suit up for the USA Rugby U23 All Stars event in Quincy, Mass., at the Freejacks Rugby Stadium from June 28 to June 30.

Norwich will be moving and competing as a Division I program in the Rugby Northeast Conference within the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) organization starting in the fall of 2024.  The transition comes in conjunction with the celebration of the program's 40th anniversary.