Jerse Earns Spot on C-USA All-Academic Team
4/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
IRVING, Texas – Conference USA continues its commitment on and off the tennis court as 12 men's and women's tennis student-athletes have been named to the 2018 InTouch Credit Union Tennis All-Academic Team including junior Tjasa Jerse on the Southern Miss women's tennis team.
Honorees are voted on by the league's sport information directors for tennis and must hold a minimum 3.2 GPA and have competed in at least 75 percent of their team's scheduled matches.
Southern Miss' Tjasa Jerse boasts a 3.873 GPA in international business and was named a 2017 ITA Scholar Athlete. She has been named to Southern Miss' Dean's List and is a two-time C-USA Academic Medal recipient.
Rice's Lindsey Hodge is the only repeat selection from last year on the women's side and owns a 4.02 GPA in sport management with a business minor.
The Roswell, Georgia, native participated in every match for the Owls this year and is ranked No. 44 in doubles with partner and fellow all-academic team honoree Wendy Zhang. Zhang is a two-time C-USA Commissioner Academic Medal recipient and named to the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll twice. The senior boasts a 3.82 GPA in sport management with a business minor.
Aliona Bolsova of Florida Atlantic makes her first appearance on the all-academic team with a 3.8 GPA in history and is ranked No. 2 in the nation. Marshall's Stephanie Smith is a two-time ITA Scholar Athlete honoree and was named to the 2017 C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll. The senior has maintained a 3.7 GPA in sport management.
Elpida Malamou of WKU graduated with a degree in sport management and a 3.8 GPA in 2017 and is currently pursuing her master's in recreation and sport administration with a 4.0. The graduate senior holds the most career singles wins by any Lady Topper in program history (43) and the most doubles wins (27).
The 2018 C-USA Women's Championship begins Thursday, April 19, in Norfolk, Virginia.
2018 InTouch Credit Union Women's Tennis All-Academic Team
Aliona Bolsova, FAU, So., Paladrugell, Spain | 3.8 GPA in history
Stephanie Smith, Marshall, Sr., Venetia, Pennsylvania | 3.7 GPA in sport management
*Lindsey Hodge, Rice, Sr., Roswell, Georiga | 4.02 GPA in sport management, business minor
Wendy Zhang, Rice, Sr., Richmond, Canada | 3.82 GPA in sport management, business minor
Tjasa Jerse, Southern Miss, Jr., Medvode, Slovenia | 3.873 GPA in international business
Elpida Malamou, WKU, Gr. Sr., Ioannina, Greece | 3.8 GPA in sport management