Denče Stentz, a member of the Mount Vernon Nazarene University women's soccer team, was recently honored when the ESPN Academic All-District IV College Division Teams were announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Stentz, a senior defender from Ashland, Ohio, was named to the ESPN Academic All-District IV Third Team. The former Ashland High School standout has started 15 of the 16 matches in which she has played this year and has helped anchor the Lady Cougars' defense that has posted 12 shutouts and allowed just seven goals through 17 matches. In the classroom, she has posted a 3.66 grade point average as a Biology (Pre-Physical Therapy) major.

The ESPN Academic All-District IV College Division teams are selected by members of CoSIDA. Eligible student-athletes must have at least a 3.30 grade point average and be at least in their sophomore year. The District IV College Division is made up of NCAA Division II and III and NAIA schools in Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. Academic All-District First Team selections are then eligible for the national ballot and Academic All-America consideration.

MVNU is currently 12-5 overall and finished American Mideast Conference play with a 6-4 mark. The Lady Cougars are the No. 4 seed in the five-team AMC Tournament that gets under way on Saturday when MVNU will host No. 5 seed Cedarville University at 1 p.m. at Cougar Field. The winner will advance to the AMC Tournament semifinals at top-seeded Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) College next Friday.