Humphrey and Klaas Collect PBC All-Academic Honors

2011 Peach Belt Conference All-Academic Tennis Teams

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Two University of South Carolina Aiken tennis student-athletes were chosen to the 2011 Peach Belt Conference All-Academic men's and women's tennis teams.

The PBC All-Academic men's and women's tennis teams were released from the league office on Tuesday, May 24, 2011.

Senior Stephanie Humphrey is now a three-time winner of the award, while sophomore Ben Klaas garnered the academic award for the first time this year.

USC Aiken junior Melanie Schnieder (Gensingen, Germany/Lina-Hilger Gymnasium) was an honorable mention selection.

A native of Harpenden, England, Humphrey concluded her final season as a Pacer in 2011 with an 8-11 record in singles. All of her matches were at No. 1 singles. She teamed with Margot Simon (Nantes, France/St. Joseph de Loquidy) to go 10-8 at No. 1 doubles in 2011.

The Sir John Lawes product concluded her Pacer career with the most wins in school history at No. 1 singles with 19.

Humphrey recently graduated from USC Aiken with a 3.86 Grade Point Average in Communications. She was chosen as the Ernestine B. Law Communications Student of the Year at USC Aiken's Academic Convocation Ceremony on Apr. 21.

A native of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Klaas finished the 2011 season with a 2-13 record in singles. He picked up both of his wins at No. 2 singles. Klaas owned an overall record of 6-9 in doubles. As a freshman in 2010, Klaas, a Deutsche Schule product, was 8-12 in singles and a combined 7-9 in doubles.

In the classroom, Klaas boasts a 3.67 GPA as a Business Management major.

The Peach Belt Conference All-Academic men's and women's tennis teams are part of a season-long program recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of PBC student-athletes in the classroom as well as on the field. To be eligible for the All-Academic team, a student-athlete must 1) participate in at least half of his/her team's events and be either a starter or significant contributor; 2) achieved a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and 3) completed at least one full academic year at his or her current institution.

The Peach Belt Conference Sports Information Directors oversee and select the teams.

Founded in 1991, the Peach Belt Conference is home to 26 NCAA Division II National Championships. The Peach Belt Conference features 13 member institutions in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama compete in 13 championship sports. The 2009-10 members of the PBC are Augusta State University, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Clayton State University, Columbus State University, Flagler College, Francis Marion University, Georgia College & State University, Georgia Southwestern State University, Lander University, University of Montevallo, North Georgia College & State University, University of North Carolina at Pembroke and the University of South Carolina Aiken.