Four Towson Women’s Tennis Standouts Earn ITA Scholar-Athlete Recognition
TOWSON, Md. — Four members of the Towson University women’s tennis program have been recognized for their excellence in the classroom, earning 2026 Division I Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar-Athlete honors. Sofia Anderson, Chloe Courtnage, Gaia Montecchi, and Kiersten Tambe received the prestigious national academic recognition after maintaining outstanding academic records during the 2025-26 school year. Three of the four honorees—Courtnage, Montecchi, and Tambe—also earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors earlier this summer, highlighting a remarkable year both academically and athletically.
The ITA Scholar-Athlete award is one of the highest academic honors in collegiate tennis. To qualify, student-athletes must maintain at least a 3.5 grade-point average for the academic year while competing as eligible members of their program. This year, 1,501 Division I women’s tennis players nationwide earned the distinction, while 231 programs were recognized as ITA All-Academic Teams.
Sofia Anderson
Anderson has continued to develop into an important member of Towson’s lineup. Known for her consistency and determination on the court, she balanced the demands of Division I competition while achieving the academic excellence required to become an ITA Scholar-Athlete. This is another milestone in a collegiate career built on steady improvement and dedication.
Chloe Courtnage
Courtnage enjoyed one of the strongest all-around years on the team. In addition to earning ITA Scholar-Athlete honors, she was named to the CSC Academic All-District Team, recognizing her achievements both in competition and in the classroom. Courtnage has become one of Towson’s veteran leaders and continues to set the standard for balancing athletics with academics.
Gaia Montecchi
A native of Italy, Montecchi has made a significant impact since joining the Tigers. Her international experience has translated well to the collegiate level, where she has become a dependable contributor in singles and doubles play. Earning both CSC Academic All-District and ITA Scholar-Athlete recognition demonstrates her commitment to excellence on and off the court.
Kiersten Tambe
Tambe rounded out Towson’s quartet of national academic honorees. Another CSC Academic All-District selection, Tambe has established herself as one of the program’s most well-rounded student-athletes. Her ability to excel in the classroom while competing at the Division I level reflects the culture head coach Jamie Peterson continues to build within the Tigers’ program.
The recognition caps another successful academic year for Towson Athletics, which recently celebrated 293 student-athletes earning spots on the CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll. The women’s tennis program continues to be one of the university’s strongest academic performers while competing in the highly competitive Coastal Athletic Association.
MSB Take
Academic awards do not always generate the same attention as conference championships, but they deserve just as much recognition. Maintaining a 3.5 GPA while practicing, traveling, and competing as a Division I athlete requires tremendous discipline.
Towson’s women’s tennis program continues to demonstrate that success is measured by more than wins and losses. With four ITA Scholar-Athletes—including three CSC Academic All-District selections—the Tigers are producing student-athletes who represent the university with distinction both on the court and in the classroom. As Maryland continues to showcase outstanding collegiate programs, Towson’s women’s tennis team remains one of the state’s best examples of what it means to excel in every aspect of the student-athlete experience.
