Waterville, Me.- Four Lesley University Women's Tennis Players earned a spot of the North Atlantic Conference All-Academic Team after the fall of 2018 semester, as announced by the conference office Wednesday afternoon. Women's Tennis is the only sport represented in the NAC conference for Lesley Athletics, as all other sports compete in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC). A total of 153 student athletes have been named to the NAC All-Academic Team.
The NAC All-Academic Team recognizes student athletes on varsity sports teams who have earned a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.50 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Student athletes must also have reached sophomore academic standing and competed in a minimum of two years of varsity competition at their institution. Each institution is responsible for submitting eligible student athletes for the All-Academic Team.
Reigning Women's Tennis Player of the Year, Maddie Abbott continued her stellar junior year with the All-Academic recognition. Fellow teammates Theresa Pereira, Jessica Russo, and Sarah Stanton also represented Lesley on the All-Academic Team.
Eight student athletes who were recognized as the Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year in their respective sport were also honored on the All-Academic Team. Those selections include cross country student athletes Benjamin Cornell (NVU-Lyndon) and Sierra James (Maine Maritime); field hockey student athlete Torrie Nightingale (UMaine-Farmington), golf student athlete David Albright (NVU-Johnson), soccer student athletes Rod Ghanayem (Husson) and Lydia Roy (UMaine-Farmington); women's tennis student athlete Mikayla Messier (NVU-Johnson); and volleyball student athlete Peyton Robinson (SUNY Canton).
Four Athlete of the Year honorees in their respective fall sports were recognized. Those student athletes are Golfer of the Year Daniel Christy (SUNY Delhi), women's soccer Player of the Year Makayla Lewis (Maine Maritime), women's tennis Player of the Year Maddie Abbott (Lesley), and women's volleyball Player of the Year Sydney Adams (Maine Maritime).
A number of this semester's All-Academic honorees also excelled athletically. The team consisted of 29 student athletes who were voted as All-NAC selections in their respective sports, including 21 First Team and 8 Second Team selections. The academic team also consisted of 19 Sportsmanship Team honorees. The NAC Sportsmanship Team is reserved for those who positively affect the culture and environment of their sport and clearly demonstrate sportsmanship and integrity beyond the playing rules.
Click here to view the complete Fall 2018 All-Academic Team.