TEMPE, Ariz. - The Ursinus College women's tennis team was named an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic Team for the second straight season and set a new program record with five players honored as ITA Scholar-Athletes.
2017 graduates Robin Alsher and Christine Palazzolo, rising senior Ashley Nguyen, and rising sophomores Kiley Addis and Caitlyn Sorelle all attained Scholar-Athlete status. In order to do so, a player must meet the following criteria: 1.) be a varsity letter winner, 2.) have a grade point average of at least 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year, and 3.) have been enrolled at their present school for at least 2 semesters (including freshman through senior year). Alsher and Nguyen were each selected for the second year in a row.
As a team, the Bears exceeded the 3.20 cumulative grade-point average necessary to be named All-Academic. Alsher and Nguyen were also Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll selections.
A social sciences Addis was 1-1 at sixth singles, picking up her first collegiate win against King's during the Bears' spring trip to Florida.
Alsher, a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major, turned in a strong senior season, going 12-7 overall between fifth and sixth singles and teaming with Palazzolo for a 13-6 mark at number three doubles.
A Biology major and Summer Fellow, Nguyen collected a 10-8 dual record at number three singles while finishing 9-8 at first doubles with classmate Aileen Bevard.
Palazzolo, a Neurology major, was 14-6 overall (12-5 dual) between fifth and sixth singles in addition to her excellent doubles campaign with Alsher. She finished her career ranked fourth in program history in doubles wins (38) and fifth in overall wins (62).
A social sciences major, Sorelle was impressive in her first collegiate season, racking up a 13-5 standing in dual matches at number two singles. Alongside rising senior Ariel Danziger, Sorelle posted a 16-7 overall record (12-7 dual) that included a doubles championship in the Blue 2 draw at the ITA Southeast Regional. The duo was 11-6 at second doubles and 1-1 in a pair of appearances at number one.
The women's tennis team finished 12-7 overall and 4-6 in Centennial Conference competition in 2016-17.