Date Posted: 8/21/2007

SKILLMAN, N.J. - The Atlantic Sun's tradition of academic excellence was bolstered when the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced its All-Academic teams and its Scholar Athletes for 2007. Belmont and Gardner-Webb had both its men's and women's tennis honored and Lipscomb, Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast had its women's teams honored. A total of 53 Atlantic Sun student-athletes were named Scholar Athletes.

Belmont and Gardner-Webb were two of 23 schools to have both its men's and women's team named to the All-Academic teams. The Atlantic Sun was one of four conferences to have multiple schools put both its men's and women's teams selected as ITA All-Academic teams. Joining the Atlantic Sun on this select list were the Ivy League, the WAC and the Northeast Conference.

Gardner-Webb, the winner of the Atlantic-Sun Academic Trophy for 2006-07, had 14 student-athletes named Scholar Athletes by the ITA. The second-most individual honors went to A-Sun newcomer, Florida Gulf Coast with 10 selections. In its last year in Division II, Four FGCU men made the list. Only nine schools had more men’s Scholar Athletes. The six women named Scholar Athletes were only bettered at the Division II level by Lewis University’s 7. Lipscomb and Stetson each had 8 selections followed by Kennesaw State and ETSU with 2 apiece.

For teams to be selected for the All-Academic team, a squad must have a cumulative team grade point average (GPA) of 3.20 or above (on a 4.00 scale) and all team members must have competed in at least one match during the 2006-2007 season. The qualifications for an individual to earn the Scholar-Athlete Award were that the player must be a varsity letterwinner, have a GPA of 3.50 and been enrolled at the school for two semesters.

The Atlantic Sun Conference, headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Florida Gulf Coast, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, UNF, Stetson, and USC Upstate.

Related Links:
 • 2007 ITA All-Academic Teams and Scholar-Athletes