APSU Tennis’ Aleksas Tverijonas earns OVC Scholar-Athlete Award

Austin Peay Sports Information

Brentwood, TN – Austin Peay State University senior men’s tennis player Aleksas Tverijonas has earned one of six prestigious Ohio Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Awards for 2013-14, the conference office announced Friday.

Tverijonas is one of six selected recipients—three men and three women—determined by a vote of OVC Faculty Athletics Representatives.

Candidates must have performed athletically with distinction, earned at least a 3.25 GPA and conducted themselves in a manner which has brought credit to the student-athlete, his or her institution, intercollegiate athletics and the OVC.

The award is based on academic and athletic criteria/accomplishments achieved during the 2013-14 school year.

“Once again, Austin Peay student-athletes represent the best and brightest of the Ohio Valley Conference,” said Athletics Director Derek van der Merwe. “Our student-athletes take building a culture of excellence in the classroom, in competition and in the community very serious. We are very proud of Aleksas. He is a great role model of our culture and values in everything he does.”

On the court, Tverijonas compiled a 20-5 record as a junior, including a 13-2 mark at No. 3 singles during the spring season.  He also played No. 1 doubles for the Govs, posting a 14-7 mark and earned All-OVC honors for the third-consecutive season.

In the classroom, Tverijonas has a 3.94 grade-point average while majoring in international management. He has been named to the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll three times.  Tverijonas also has been named to the Austin Peay Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, the Dean’s List and the President’s List in addition to being a Men’s Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year recipient at the annual Spring Awards Banquet.

Off the court, Tverijonas has been involved with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the FCA Food Drive, the Pack the Peay celebration and the Hoops for Heroes fundraiser.

Tverijonas becomes the 22nd Austin Peay athlete to receive the prestigious award since it was instituted in 1981-82. He is the 15th Governors to receive such distinction, with Govs former football player Ben Stansfield the most recent recipient for the 2012-13 school year.

Joining Tverijonas as an OVC Scholar-Athlete for the 2013-14 school year were Alison Alcott of Belmont (soccer), Jason Blum of Southeast Missouri (baseball), Ann Eason of Eastern Kentucky (cross country/track & field), Cori Harris of SIUE (volleyball) and J.J. Mann of Belmont (basketball).

Other nominees for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Andrea Baylin of Southeast Missouri (volleyball), Sara Borders of Jacksonville State (softball), Jade Flory of Morehead State (soccer), CheyAnne Gaskey of Murray State (softball), Max Holcombe of Jacksonville State (football), Lauren Hoppensteadt of Eastern Illinois (soccer), Cody Matthews of Tennessee Tech (football), Jarod Neal of UT Martin (football), Josh Piper of Eastern Illinois (basketball), Chris Robinson of Morehead State (baseball), Kristen Stainback of Austin Peay (basketball), Eric Stutz of Eastern Kentucky (basketball), Taylor Swayzer of Tennessee State (volleyball), Nick Thrasher of Tennessee State (football), Nicolas Vincent of SIUE (tennis) and Allie Wimpey of UT Martin (volleyball).