ANDERSON, S.C. – For the seventh time in departmental history and the first time in four years, the Anderson University women's tennis team has edged the women's cross country squad for top academic honors following the fall semester, as announced by the department earlier this week.
"We are so proud of our women's tennis team and very thankful to Dr. Shirley Jacks for the naming of this award," said Vice President for Athletics Bert Epting, Jr. "In a year in which we have had much uncertainty and change, our women's tennis team has excelled in the classroom in ways that truly bring to life what makes NCAA Division II athletics special – success in and outside the classroom. I am excited to see them compete again during the spring semester and we celebrate with them today for this awesome accomplishment – Go Trojans!"
Competition for the academic accolade was as fierce as ever, with nearly every team achieving a 3.0 GPA for the semester and the Athletic Department as a whole setting a new departmental record for the second straight semester by posting a cumulative 3.426 GPA. All 19 teams recorded at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, with a quarter of AU's student-athletes (84) earning a perfect 4.0 GPA for the fall semester.
The women's tennis team, which posted a stellar 3.728 GPA for the fall term – including five players with perfect 4.0 GPA's – equaled the fifth-highest grade point average since the inception of the award, while recapturing the honor from the Trojan women's cross country team, which had claimed the accolade in the spring for the third time in four semesters.
"I am so proud of the girls for their hard work in the classroom this semester," said Anderson Head Tennis Coach Joey Eskridge. "Since we were unable to compete on the court this fall it is good to see that they turned their focus toward winning in the classroom. We always put school first, but this semester it was especially the case due to not being able to compete. I look forward to getting them back in January to celebrate their accomplishment."
The Dr. Shirley Jacks Award is given to the team that possesses the highest grade point average at the end of each semester and the women's tennis team will be presented the trophy at an athletic event during the spring.
