BOSTON – The America East Conference has officially announced its Spring Scholar-Athletes and Academic Cup winners for the 2026 season, highlighting another term of academic and athletic excellence for the University at Albany.
 
Highlighting the individual honors, Jacob Smith of men's lacrosse and Ravan Marsell of women's lacrosse were both named America East Spring Scholar-Athletes.
 
On the team front, three UAlbany programs claimed the conference's highest team GPA for their respective sports throughout the year: women's basketball (3.81), softball (3.79), and men's soccer (3.63), which secured the top spot for the fourth consecutive year. The women's basketball team's 3.81 GPA also ranked second among all America East teams across every sport, while the women's soccer program posted a 3.72 GPA, good for sixth overall conference wide.

Jacob Smith – Men's Lacrosse
Smith put together an elite 2026 campaign on both sides of the ball, securing America East First Team All-Conference honors as the premier long-stick midfielder in the league. A driving force on the field, he helped guide UAlbany to its third consecutive conference championship and a top-20 national ranking to finish the season. Off the field, the junior Business Economics major was named a 2026 Elite 18 Award winner and earned a spot on the America East Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll.
 
Ravan Marsell – Women's Lacrosse
Marsell put together a strong sophomore campaign in 2026, leading the Great Danes to an America East Tournament Championship and their 15th consecutive tournament title game appearance. The America East All-Conference First Team and All-Championship Team selection led UAlbany with 68 points on 29 goals and 39 assists, while adding 32 ground balls and 16 caused turnovers. Marsell paced the America East in both total assists (36) and assists per game (2.12), ranked fourth in points per game (3.82), and tied for the top spot in the conference with a .527 shot percentage.
 
Women's Basketball (3.81 GPA)
Pacing all UAlbany programs with a 3.81 team GPA, the women's basketball team finished as the top academic program in America East women's basketball. The achievement follows a 2025-26 campaign where the Great Danes finished with a 14-16 overall record.
 
Softball (3.79 GPA)
The UAlbany softball program posted a 3.79 team GPA to lead all conference counterparts during their competitive window. On the diamond, the Great Danes finished the 2026 season with a 25-20 overall record and a 13-7 mark in America East play, securing the third seed in the conference tournament.
 
Men's Soccer (3.63 GPA)
The men's soccer program captured the highest GPA in America East men's soccer for the fourth consecutive year with a 3.63 team average. On the pitch, the Great Danes logged a 5-6-6 overall record and a 3-2-2 mark in conference play during their competitive season, clinching a berth in the America East tournament.
 
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