JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State men's tennis collected a big accolade on Monday when it was announced the program earned Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic Team status. In addition to the team honor, five Gamecocks notched ITA Scholar-Athlete recognition as well.
 
Sophomore Daisuke Inagawa, redshirt freshman Lucius Soller, and freshmen Konstantin Benneman, Matei Palcau, and Xavier Sarda Marti were all named ITA Scholar-Athletes. Their efforts, along with a team grade point average of 3.45 for the Spring of 2023, helped Jax State secure a program-wide All-Academic Team honor.
 
"Over the past three or four months, we've talked a lot about what these guys have been able to accomplish on the courts," head coach Trey Morris said. "I think it says a lot about how well-rounded our players are to see them achieve things like this off the courts. That's the type of program that these guys are creating- a program of hard work, energy, effort, and enthusiasm in everything we do.
 
"Seeing five guys claim individual honors and our team being named an All-Academic program, it's a great example of that hard work paying off," Morris said. "I'm beyond proud of them for their accomplishments in the classroom this year and I won't be surprised if this is something that continues for this group because, frankly, this is who they are."
 
Division I men's tennis programs earn All-Academic Team awards if they have a team GPA of 3.2 or higher. To be named an ITA Scholar-Athlete, student-athletes must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 for the entire academic year.
 
After spending two years as a member of the ASUN Conference, Jacksonville State men's tennis is set to embark upon Conference USA beginning in the 2023-24 campaign. The Gamecocks will be part of an extremely tough league competing against foes such as Liberty, Middle Tennessee State, and New Mexico State.
 
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