2026 CSC Men’s Tennis Academic All-Americans
SEWARD, Neb. – From an accolades standpoint, Nick Velders is the most accomplished student-athlete in the history of the Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Tennis program. His latest honor came on June 3 when College Sports Communicators (CSC) announced Velders as a 2025-26 NAIA First Team Academic All-American. Velders is one of only six NAIA men’s tennis student-athletes to be named to the first team. Velders has earned this distinction for a second straight year.
The 2026 Academic All-America® Men’s Tennis Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. Student-athletes must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher in order to be nominated for this award. Nominees also had to meet specific requirements in terms of matches played and started during the 2025-26 season. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
A native of Apeldoorn, Gelderland (The Netherlands), Velders was also tabbed an NAIA Third Team All-American on May 22. Impressively, Velders achieved a perfect 19-0 singles record (mostly at the No. 2 position) during the spring semester while leading Head Coach Lisa Hart’s Bulldogs to a school record 17 dual wins. Over two seasons as a Bulldog, Velders achieved combined records of 38-2 in singles and 29-11 in doubles. In addition to garnering two Academic All-America awards, Velders is a two-time NAIA All-American and was selected as the 2025 GPAC Player of the Year (an award he shared with two others). Velders earned his degree from Concordia in Exercise Science while producing high marks in the classroom. He spent his first two collegiate seasons at Prairie State College.
Nick Velders career highlights
· 2x NAIA All-American (second team in 2025; third team in 2026)
· 2x CSC First Team Academic All-American / 2x CSC Academic All-District
· 2025 GPAC Player of the Year
· 2x GPAC All-Conference (singles / doubles)
· Career records: 38-2 in singles; 29-11 doubles
· School record for singles wins in a season (19 in both 2025 and 2026)
· 2026 NAIA Scholar-Athlete