The University of Akron Athletics
Three Zips Earn Academic All-MAC Honors
May 11 | Women's Tennis, Academics
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CLEVELAND – Three Akron Zips were among the Mid-American Conference's 27 women's tennis players honored as Academic All-MAC selections for 2018 on Friday.
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Earning the honor for the third time was senior captain Carli Knezevich (Austin, Texas), while junior Luisa Echeverry (Cali, Colombia) was honored for the second time. Sophomore Rita Pedroso (Porto, Portugal) was a first-time recipient.
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"I am extremely proud of the academic work that all of our outstanding student-athletes put in this year," said Akron head coach Brandon Padgett. "But it is always wonderful to have players recognized by the conference for their outstanding achievements.  They worked hard to earn this recognition."
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Knezevich, an ITA Scholar Athlete and Dean's List student, played No. 2-4 singles and finished singles play at 12-18 overall. Named the MAC Singles Player of the Week (Jan. 24), the team captain went 5-1 at No. 2. In doubles action, Knezevich went 11-8 in the spring, including 4-1 in MAC play at No. 3. She went 3-0 at No. 3 play with freshman partner Madison Wolfe. Named the MAC Doubles Team of the Week with senior partner Waverly Wituski (March 28), Knezevich sports a 3.371 GPA in sport management.
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Echeverry, a two-time ITA Scholar Athlete and Dean's List student, played primarily No. 4/5 singles. She finished 20-13 overall, including 6-3 in fall action and 14-10 this spring. Echeverry was the only Zip to register 20 wins on the season, including a perfect 2-0 at No. 2 singles. She went 17-15 in doubles and 13-9 in doubles in the spring. Echeverry has a 3.624 GPA in mechanical engineering.
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Pedroso, an ITA Scholar Athlete and Dean's List student, played No. 1-2 singles. She participated in the ITA Midwest Championships and won her qualifying round match. Pedroso played No. 1 doubles with freshman partner Anna Uljanov. The duo earned MAC Doubles Team of the Week honors (March 7) after winning two home matches and helping the Zips win the doubles point twice. Pedroso has 3.900 in international business.
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The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.
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The Academic All-MAC honorees are now under consideration for Distinguished Scholar Athlete honors.
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Akron's 2018 WOMEN'S TENNIS Academic All-MAC Selections
Luisa Echeverry      Jr.       Cali, Colombia              3.624       Mechanical Engineering
Carli Knezevich       Sr.      Austin, Texas                 3.371       Sport Management
Rita Pedroso           So.     Porto, Portugal              3.900       International Business
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CLEVELAND – Three Akron Zips were among the Mid-American Conference's 27 women's tennis players honored as Academic All-MAC selections for 2018 on Friday.
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Earning the honor for the third time was senior captain Carli Knezevich (Austin, Texas), while junior Luisa Echeverry (Cali, Colombia) was honored for the second time. Sophomore Rita Pedroso (Porto, Portugal) was a first-time recipient.
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"I am extremely proud of the academic work that all of our outstanding student-athletes put in this year," said Akron head coach Brandon Padgett. "But it is always wonderful to have players recognized by the conference for their outstanding achievements.  They worked hard to earn this recognition."
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Knezevich, an ITA Scholar Athlete and Dean's List student, played No. 2-4 singles and finished singles play at 12-18 overall. Named the MAC Singles Player of the Week (Jan. 24), the team captain went 5-1 at No. 2. In doubles action, Knezevich went 11-8 in the spring, including 4-1 in MAC play at No. 3. She went 3-0 at No. 3 play with freshman partner Madison Wolfe. Named the MAC Doubles Team of the Week with senior partner Waverly Wituski (March 28), Knezevich sports a 3.371 GPA in sport management.
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Echeverry, a two-time ITA Scholar Athlete and Dean's List student, played primarily No. 4/5 singles. She finished 20-13 overall, including 6-3 in fall action and 14-10 this spring. Echeverry was the only Zip to register 20 wins on the season, including a perfect 2-0 at No. 2 singles. She went 17-15 in doubles and 13-9 in doubles in the spring. Echeverry has a 3.624 GPA in mechanical engineering.
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Pedroso, an ITA Scholar Athlete and Dean's List student, played No. 1-2 singles. She participated in the ITA Midwest Championships and won her qualifying round match. Pedroso played No. 1 doubles with freshman partner Anna Uljanov. The duo earned MAC Doubles Team of the Week honors (March 7) after winning two home matches and helping the Zips win the doubles point twice. Pedroso has 3.900 in international business.
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The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.
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The Academic All-MAC honorees are now under consideration for Distinguished Scholar Athlete honors.
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Akron's 2018 WOMEN'S TENNIS Academic All-MAC Selections
Luisa Echeverry      Jr.       Cali, Colombia              3.624       Mechanical Engineering
Carli Knezevich       Sr.      Austin, Texas                 3.371       Sport Management
Rita Pedroso           So.     Porto, Portugal              3.900       International Business
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