Trinity's Lambeth and Pitts Earn All-America Honors

Trinity's Lambeth and Pitts Earn All-America Honors

(Portions of this story courtesy taken from Trinity University Athletics website)

TEMPE, Ariz.Trinity University senior Wilson Lambeth and junior Jordan Pitts have received men's NCAA Division III All-America honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).

Lambeth earned the accolade in singles and doubles, while Pitts was awarded All-America distinction in doubles. The two Tiger standouts qualified for the NCAA Division III Singles and Doubles Championships last month at Kalamazoo, Michigan. Lambeth advanced to the Singles second round, while Pitts was eliminated in the opening round.

The fourth-seeded Trinity tandem qualified for the NCAA Doubles Tournament for the second year in a row and lost in the first round. Last fall, Lambeth and Pitts won the ITA Southwest Doubles Championship and advanced to the ITA Cup. Lambeth picked up All-America honors for the second time as he advanced to the 2017 NCAA Doubles Quarterfinals with former player Matt Tyer.

Lambeth received two awards this season from the ITA, the Division III West Region Senior Player of the Year and the Most Improved Senior Player. In 2017, Lambeth was named the ITA National and West Region Player to Watch.

Earlier, Lambeth was designated as the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Men's Player of the Year and received All-SCAC recognition for the fourth occasion. Pitts made the All-SCAC Team for the third consecutive time. Lambeth and Pitts played major roles in the Tigers' winning their 10th consecutive SCAC Championship and the 24th overall, the most by any sport in conference history. 

The ITA also released final team and individual rankings. The Tiger squad was ranked 13th nationally and #2 in the West Region. After winning the SCAC title, Trinity made its 10th consecutive appearance in the NCAA postseason event. The Tigers advanced to the third round and completed the season with a 17-10 overall record.

Lambeth received a final national ranking of 24th in singles and was sixth in the West Region. He completed the dual-match season with a 15-7 singles mark. Lambeth and Pitts were ranked fifth in the nation in doubles with an 18-4 record,and #2 in the West Region. Pitts posted a 6-8 record in singles and drew a #29 national ranking and was eighth in the Region.

To earn ITA All-America honors, a player must meet any of the following criteria:

Singles
1.) Top 8 seed in NCAA singles tournament
2.) Win one round at NCAA singles tournament
3.) Finish in the Top 20 in the final Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings
4.) Win USTA/ITA Fall Regional Tournament
5.) Wins first-round match at the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships 

(including players who receive at-large invitations to the tournament) 

Doubles
1.) Top 4 seed in NCAA doubles tournament
2.) Win one round at NCAA doubles tournament
3.) Finish in the Top 10 in the final Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings
4.) Win USTA/ITA Fall Regional Tournament
5.) Wins first-round match at the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships 

(including teams who receive at-large invitations to the tournament)