The Valparaiso University men’s and women’s tennis teams were both named All-Academic Teams by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) as the organization released its 2016 academic awards this week. In addition, nine Crusader student-athletes – six men and three women – were named ITA Scholar-Athletes.

The ITA All-Academic Team award is open to any ITA program that has a cumulative team grade point average of 3.20 or above. In order to earn ITA Scholar-Athlete status a player must be a varsity letterwinner who maintained a 3.50 GPA for the current academic year.

On the men’s side, graduated seniors Daniel Oakes (Elburn, Ill./St. Charles North), Michael Savaglio (Kenosha, Wis./Mary D. Bradford) and Lucas Waak (Manitowoc, Wis./Roncalli) received the academic accolade, as well as returnees Dave Bacalla (Skokie, Ill./Niles North), Kyle Dunn (Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac) and Jeffrey Schorsch (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg). The Crusader men were the only Horizon League program to earn the team academic award or have individual honorees.

Kathleen Hebble (Sellersburg, Ind./Silver Creek), Morgan Paras (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard) and Erin Staal (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven) represented the Valparaiso women’s tennis team in receiving the academic honors. The Crusaders were one of just two Horizon League squads on the women’s side to receive the team academic award.