Women’s Tennis Named ITA All-Academic Team

Women’s Tennis Named ITA All-Academic Team

TEMPE, Ariz. – For the third straight year, the Cleveland State women's tennis team has been honored for its success in the classroom, as the Vikings were named an ITA All-Academic Team, while a quartet of players also picked up ITA Scholar-Athlete accolades.

As a team, the Vikings posted a grade point average of 3.397 for the 2015-16 academic year, earning ITA All-Academic Team honors for the 10th time under head coach Brian Etzkin. Cleveland State was one of four Horizon League teams to pick up ITA All-Academic Team honors, joining Oakland, Valparaiso, and Wright State.

The four Vikings to be awarded ITA Scholar-Athlete honors were Victoria Bensimon, Morgan Nix, Katy Quillin, and Jana Schober. All four of the honorees were named to the Cleveland State Dean's List following both the fall and spring semesters last year, and also earned CSU Athletic Academic Honors.

Schober, who picked up ITA Scholar-Athlete honors for the second straight year, posted a team-best 3.973 grade point average during the 2015-16 academic year studying business management. Schober saw limited action during the 2016 spring season, posting a 5-7 singles record after spending most of her time at the No. 6 spot.

Playing in her first season of collegiate tennis, Nix posted a 3.865 GPA studying biology with a focus on pre-med. Nix spent the majority of the spring season playing at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, while she was also a prominent part of the doubles lineup teaming with Bensimon. Nix picked up a pair of singles wins against IUPUI and Green Bay during the spring, while she also posted an 8-11 doubles record with Bensimon.

Bensimon, who is also a two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete, recorded a 3.680 GPA last year studying health science and psychology with a focus on pre-med, while serving as the Cleveland State SAAC Social Event Chair. Bensimon tallied a team-best 18-16 singles record last season, and became the 13th Viking all-time to record 50 career singles wins. She posted a perfect 9-0 record against Horizon League opponents, and finished the season on a 12-match winstreak - the second longest winstreak in program history. 

Quillin was the final Viking to earn ITA Scholar-Athlete honors, posting a 3.622 GPA throughout the 2015-16 academic year, pursuing a degree in marketing. Quillin saw limited action for the Vikings last season, finishing the year with a 4-6 singles record and a matching 4-6 doubles mark. 

This quartet helped Cleveland State capture its second Horizon League Regular Season title last year, as the Vikings recorded a program-best 8-1 record against league opponents during the spring season. Cleveland State finished the year with an overall record of 14-9, marking the 11th winning season during Etzkin's 14-year tenure. 

In order to earn ITA Scholar-Athlete status, a player must meet the following criteria: 1) be a varsity letterwinner, 2) have a grade point average of at least 3.50 for the current academic year, and 3) have been enrolled at their present school for at least two semesters. 

The ITA All-Academic Team award is open to any member program that has a cumulative team grade point average of 3.20 or above for the current academic year.