State College, Pa., June 8, 2000 - Penn State's Karen Gulini (Easton, Pa.) has been selected to the GTE Academic All-America Softball Teams which were announced today by the GTE Academic All-America Committee.

Gulini was named to the GTE Academic All-America Second Team after a tremendous season both athletically and academically, which saw the junior outfielder post a 3.62 grade point average in Elementary Education while leading the Nittany Lions to their first NCAA Regional appearance since 1985.

Previously recognized this season as a third-team All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, Gulini was a major factor in Penn State setting a school-record with 38 wins this season and winning its first NCAA postseason game in school history. The right fielder led the Big Ten with a .400 batting average and ranked fourth in the conference with 27 stolen bases. She led the Lions with 64 hits, ranked second in runs scored with 33 and posted the squad's second-highest on-base percentage at .422. Gulini sported a team-best 20-game hitting streak from March 24 through April 4, while hitting for a .493 clip over that period. She is currently tied for second with teammate Gina Bianchini (Pottstown, Pa.) on the Penn State career stolen base list with 70. Defensively, Gulini recorded a .977 fielding percentage with four assists while committing only one error. She hit her first career home run in the Lions' win over Wisconsin on April 21.

Named Penn State's offensive player of the year, Gulini has also been recognized with first All-Big Ten status in addition to being chosen as a member of the first team Great Lakes All-Region squad.

Athletes nominated for the honor of GTE Academic All-American must have a 3.20 cumulative GPA and be a starter or key reserve. Voting is done by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

A total of nine Penn State student-athletes earned GTE All-America honors in 1998-99, the most ever to receive the recognition at the University in one academic year. Seven student-athletes have been so honored thus far this year, giving Penn State 42 GTE Academic All-America selections the past six years.