Pair of Cardinals Earn First Team All-ODAC Honors
Two players also named honorable mention

11/21/2007

WASHINGTON - The Old Dominion Athletic Conference released the 2007 all-conference squad Wednesday morning and four Catholic University Cardinals received recognition.  On the defense, Nick Olivero (Fairfax, Va./W.T. Woodson) and Anthony DelBorrell (Laurel, Md./DeMatha) were both selected to the first team while Bill Gross (Southampton, Pa./Archbishop Wood) was named honorable mention.  For the offense, quarterback Keith Ricca (Poolesville, Md./St. John's Prospect Hall) was given honorable mention recognition.

DelBorrell led the CUA defense this past season with 130 total tackles, 58 solo and 72 assisted, this ranked him second in the conference.  The linebacker also had 14.0 tackles for a loss of 37 yards, 4.5 sacks for 23 yards, an interception, two forced fumbles, one recovered and a safety.  The senior is a four-year starter for the Cardinals, this is his first selection to the all-ODAC squad.

Olivero was selected at the defensive back position as posing as a threat to all quarterbacks for the year.  The junior ranked third on the team in tackles with 73, 44 solo and 29 assisted, and also led the ODAC in interceptions with six for 86 yards which ranked him 24^th in the nation.  Olivero had three interceptions this year against Emory and Henry which placed him in a tie for second on the CUA and ODAC all-time list for picks in a game.  Olivero was one of CUA's main returnman taking 24 punts for 285 yards including two for touchdowns.  His 285 yards are the most ever for a CUA player in a season and his 88 yards return placed him second on the longest in a game.  Olivero, a team captain on both the football and basketball squads, is a two-year honoree to the first team.

Gross ranked second on the squad and fourth in the ODAC in tackles with 86 despite missing the final two games of the season with an injury.  This is the second time he has been named to the all-conference squad.  It is also Ricca's second selection after earning honors his sophomore year.  The junior quarterback completed 252 passes for 2,660 yards and 24 touchdowns this past season.

The Cardinals will return three of their four all-conference players next year as well as a majority of the starters.  The Cards finished the season 5-5 which was their best record since the 1999 campaign.