Women's tennis team, individuals snag academic honors

INDIANOLA, Iowa – For the third time in as many years, the Simpson women's tennis team earned Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic Team status while five individuals were recognized for their achievements in the classroom.

The Storm women's tennis team earned a cumulative team grade point average at or above 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) for the 2011-12 school year. This year marks the third in a row under head coach Lindsay Chase the team has achieved the honor, also taking home the award in 2010 and 2011.

Individually, Lynae Gruber, Lindsay Nash, Lauren Schemmel, Mikayla Struebing and Whitney Thompson were named ITA Scholar Athletes by achieving at or better than a 3.50 grade point average (on a 4.00 scale) during the 2011-12 school year. With the selection, Nash and Struebing become three-time honorees while Gruber, Schemmel and Thompson each take home the award for the second time in their careers.

The Storm return 10 players for the 2012 season after going 10-8 in 2011-12, the program's best record since 2002. The season opens at home against Buena Vista on Aug. 29.