Full CSC Academic All-District Release
HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College men's tennis team placed four student-athletes on the 2024-25 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Team, as announced in a postseason release on Tuesday afternoon.
Niki Lavu and Justin Minerva return to the CSC Academic All-District list for the second-straight year, being joined by first-timers Marko Arboleda and James McKenzie.
This honor recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. To be eligible for CSC Academic All-District honors, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA, be a sophomore or above, and be a starter or significant reserve.
Arboleda, who ranked as high as 14th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Association (ITA) Atlantic South region this season, finished his sophomore season with a dual-match record of 9-7, going 2-3 in conference play in the number one singles spot. The 2024 Rookie of the Year strung together a four-match win streak from March 10-March 28, that saw the Chappaqua, N.Y. native claim victories over Hope International, UC Santa Cruz, 20th-ranked Redlands, and No. 39 Stevens. The victory in Haverford's upset win over No. 20 Redlands on March 12, saw Arboleda defeat Dominic Anderson in the top flight, a player who was ranked 49th nationally at the time. On April 12, the sophomore picked up his second ranked-win of the season, defeating Vincent Troung of No. 21 Christopher Newport, who was ranked 14th regionally at the time. Capping off the 2025 season, the sophomore was named to the All-Centennial Conference First Team in singles and earned an honorable mention spot for doubles with teammate Owen Kilmer.
Going an impressive 10-6 in dual-match play and 5-1 in conference play, Lavu consistently gave the Scarlet and Black success up and down the lineup. Going 8-6 in the four-spot, the Bryn Mawr, Pa. product earned a vital victory over Jack Hinkle of No. 20 Redlands in the upset-victory for Haverford on March 12. He also took home the win against Eddy Porsmyr Hansen of 21st-ranked Christopher Newport on April 12. Before locking horns with the Captains, Lavu moved up to the number two spot against Dickinson, earning a singles win. The versatile junior also secured a win in the three spot, defeating Deniz Finkel of Ursinus on April 22. To end 2025, Lavu took home a spot on the All-Centennial Conference Second Team list for singles.
Playing mostly in the number two singles spot in 2025, McKenzie went 9-8 in dual-match play and 3-2 in conference play. The senior also earned a win occupying the number one spot against Muhlenberg on April 19. The Melbourne, Australia local played a part in the Fords' ranked win against No. 39 Stevens, dispatching Vivek Harinarayan, before prevailing over Ryan Monroe of 21st-ranked Christopher Newport on April 12. In the semifinals of the Centennial Conference Tournament, McKenzie earned a victory over No. 36 Franklin & Marshall's Zac Ashtiani, helping the Scarlet and Black advance to the Centennial Conference Final for the first time since 2013. The senior collected an All-Centennial Conference Second Team selection for singles and an All-Centennial Conference First Team honor in doubles with Minerva, before earning a singles victory against Illinois Tech in the First Round of the NCAA Championships on May 9.
Minerva, of Bala Cynwyd, Pa., led the team in singles wins with 14, mainly playing in the fifth flight for the Fords. Putting points on the board for Haverford against ranked-opponents, the senior earned singles victories against No. 5 Denison (March 1), No. 20 Redlands (March 12), No. 39 Stevens, No. 60 TCNJ (April 2), No. 38 Franklin & Marshall (April 5), and No. 21 Christopher Newport (April 12). He picked up a win in the Centennial Conference semifinals against No. 36 Franklin & Marshall (May 1), and earned a singles victory against Illinois Tech in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament on May 9.
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2024-25 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs.
