AUSTIN, Texas --- Three Tusculum University student-athletes have been named to the 2023 NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Academic All-District® 3 team as selected by the College Sports Communicators.
Earning Academic All-District® honors for the Black and Orange are Elodie Baechler, Paulina Loretz and Valentina Loretz.
Baechler, a sophomore from La Rippe, Switzerland, has a 3.93 cumulative grade point average while majoring in sport management. The two-time ITA All-Academic Team selection is a member of the South Atlantic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll, Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll, Dean's List, President's List and Charles Oliver Gray Honors List.
She earned All-SAC second team honors in doubles where she posted a 16-9 record including 10-1 in SAC action. She has recorded 27 singles and doubles victories including 24 wins in conference play.
Paulina Loretz, a junior from San Mateo Atenco, Mexico, has a 3.81 GPA while majoring in marketing. She is a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, Athletic Director's Honor Roll, Dean's List and Charles Oliver Gray Honors List. She is a two-time member of the ITA All-Academic Team and was a 2021-22 recipient of the Division II Athletic Directors Association Academic Award.
She and doubles partner Tabitha Howe were named to the All-SAC second team this past spring. Loretz posted a 19-11 singles record including 9-2 in SAC matches. She also went 7-3 in SAC doubles play.
Valentina Loretz, a junior from San Mateo Atenco, Mexico, is majoring in political science and has a 3.77 GPA. She is a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, Athletic Director's Honor Roll, Dean's List and Charles Oliver Gray Honors List. She is a two-time member of the ITA All-Academic Team and was a 2021-22 recipient of the Division II Athletic Directors Association Academic Award.
Along with doubles teammate Elodie Baechler, the duo earned All-SAC second recognition this season. Loretz went 23-7 in singles play including 9-3 in league matches. She also went 18-7 in doubles and a perfect 11-0 in SAC outings.
The 2023 Academic All-District® women's tennis team recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. All four advance to the Academic All-America® ballot with the winners being announced at the end of this month.
District 3 is comprised of colleges and universities representing the South Atlantic Conference, Peach Belt Conference and Conference Carolinas. To be eligible, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher, must be at least a sophomore and played in 50 percent of their team's games.
Tusculum finished the season with 17-7 record including 11-1 in league play to capture the SAC Championship for a seventh time in program history. TU claimed runner-up honors at the SAC Tournament and earned the Pioneers their 12th NCAA Division II Tournament appearance.
The 2023 Academic All-District® Women's Tennis Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes women's tennis honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2022-23 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA national office.
