NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana men's tennis standout
Samir Chikhaoui is an Academic All-American for the second consecutive year.
Chikhaoui, a senior from Lille, France, and a May business graduate of XULA,
was named Tuesday to the NAIA at-large second team by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Chikhaoui made the first team a year ago.
The Academic All-America award recognizes student-athletes
for outstanding achievements in the classroom as well as in competition.
Nominees must be a starter or important reserve
with at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale. They also must have completed at least one
full calendar year at their current institution and reached sophomore athletic eligibility.
Chikhaoui helped the Gold Rush reach the NAIA national final in 2019
and the semifinals in 2018. The 2020 team was 9-1 and ranked second nationally when the season
was canceled in mid-March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chikhaoui on June 3 was named XULA Men's Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
In April he was named XULA College of Business Outstanding Student-Athlete.
In his first season at XULA (2018), he was selected second-team NAIA All-America.
Chikhaoui earned a combined 73 victories in singles and doubles during three XULA seasons after transferring
from two-year Eastern Florida State College.
"When I first met Samir during the recruiting process, he told me how important his academics were to him,"
said
Alan Green, XULA's head coach and director of tennis. "I knew we were getting a guy who could and did play in
the top half of our lineup. But it is remarkable what he accomplished in the classroom given that Xavier
can be tough academically with our strong curriculum. Samir wasn't just a guy who got good grades.
He participated on academic teams for the Division of Business and traveled to competitions representing Xavier.
And while at those business competitions representing Xavier University, in my eyes he also represented tennis.
That's what makes me so proud of him. A guy that can do that and be a major contributor to teams that finished
national runner-up once and were ranked in the top 10 throughout his time here."
Chikhaoui is the third from XULA to make Academic All-America in consecutive years
and the first since Javon Mead and Matt Pieri in men's cross country/track and field (2011-12, 2012-13).
All-time XULA has produced 11 athletes who combined for 16 Academic All-America honors, all in the last 12 seasons.
CoSIDA has sponsored the Academic All-America program since 1952.
XULA's All-Time List of Academic All-Americans
(chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America) |
| Year | Name | Sport | Team |
| 2008-09 | Joe Drexler-Dreis | Men's Track and Field/Cross Country | Second Team |
| 2011-12 | Matt Pieri | Men's Track and Field/Cross Country | Second Team |
| 2011-12 | Javon Mead | Men's Track and Field/Cross Country | Third Team |
| 2012-13 | Taylor Reuther | Women's Volleyball | Third Team |
| 2012-13 | Matt Pieri | Men's Track and Field/Cross Country | Second Team |
| 2012-13 | Javon Mead | Men's Track and Field/Cross Country | Third Team |
| 2012-13 | Catherine Fakler | Women's Track and Field/Cross Country | Second Team |
| 2012-13 | Devinn Rolland | Women's Track and Field/Cross Country | Second Team |
| 2014-15 | Catherine Fakler | Women's Track and Field/Cross Country | First Team |
| 2014-15 | Devinn Rolland | Women's Track and Field/Cross Country | First Team |
| 2015-16 | Brent Kitto | Men's Track and Field/Cross Country | Second Team |
| 2016-17 | Drew Chatters | Women's Track and Field/Cross Country | Second Team |
| 2016-17 | Karan Salwan | Men's Tennis | Second Team |
| 2018-19 | Samir Chikhaoui | Men's Tennis | First Team |
| 2018-19 | Gabriel Niculescu | Men's Tennis | First Team |
| 2019-20 | Samir Chikhaoui | Men's Tennis | Second Team |
16 selections (10 men, 6 women)
11 individuals (7 men, 4 women)
First-team selections: 4 — Samir Chikhaoui (2018-19), Catherine Fakler (2014-15), Gabriel Niculescu (2018-19), Devinn Rolland (2014-15)
Multi-year selections: 5 — Samir Chikhaoui (2018-19, 2019-20), Catherine Fakler (2012-13, 2014-15),
Javon Mead (2011-12, 2012-13), Matt Pieri (2011-12, 2012-13), Devinn Rolland (2012-13, 2014-15)
Consecutive-year selections: Samir Chikhaoui (2018-19, 2019-20), Javon Mead (2011-12, 2012-13), Matt Pieri (2011-12, 2012-13) |
