TEMPE, Ariz. – The Ursinus College women's tennis team and several of its members were honored for their success in the classroom when the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced its 2016 academic awards on Thursday.

The Bears were one of over 700 programs recognized as an ITA All-Academic Team for collecting a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or above. Additionally, 2016 graduate BreAnna Bashaw, rising senior Robin Alsher, and juniors Aileen Bevard and Ashley Nguyen attained ITA Scholar-Athlete status. To earn that distinction, a student-athlete must be a varsity letter winner with a GPA of at least 3.50 for the current academic year and have been enrolled at their present school for at least two semesters.   

Bashaw and Bevard were two of 11 Centennial Conference women's tennis players who earned both all-conference and Academic Honor Roll recognition, while Alsher and Nguyen also made the 2016 Spring Academic Honor Roll.

Alsher and Bevard will serve as team co-captains alongside senior Christine Palazzolo for the 2016-17 campaign. Bevard, a second team all-conference singles selection after her sophomore season, already ranks third in program history with 30 singles victories and is tied – along with classmate Ariel Danziger – for third all-time with 51 total wins. Danziger (27), Palazzolo (25), Bevard (21), and Nguyen (21) all reside within the top 10 in career doubles triumphs.

The 2016-17 season begins with the ITA Southeast Championships from September 24-25, and the Bears play their only match of the fall season at Eastern on October 4.