Four Valpo WBB recognized by Academic All-District selections by College Sports Communicators
Four Valpo basketball players were recognized as Academic All-District selections by College Sports Communicators on Tuesday for their work on the court and in the classroom. Kaspar Sepp (Tartu, Estonia/Fairmont Academy) represented the Beacon men, while Leah Earnest (Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH), Fiona Connolly (South Burlington, Vt./Brewster Academy [La Salle]) and Maci Rhoades (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek [Radford]) represented the women’s program.
Sepp appeared in all 34 games for the Valpo men in 2024-25, averaging 3.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game — the latter mark good for second on the team. He recorded his first career double-double at Bradley, registering 11 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Sepp carries a 3.776 cumulative GPA as a bioengineering major and was named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete Second Team earlier this month.
Earnest was a First Team All-MVC honoree this season, finishing the year with 565 points scored — second-most in a single season in program history. She ranked fourth in the MVC in scoring (17.7 ppg) and seventh in rebounding (7.7 rpg) in 2024-25, and closed her career first in program history in rebounding and third in scoring. Earnest holds a 3.717 GPA as she pursues her MBA, already having graduated from Valpo last May with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. She was selected to the MVC Scholar-Athlete Third Team earlier this month.
Connolly appeared in 31 games for the Valpo women in 2024-25, averaging 3.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game while finishing the year second on the team with 60 assists. She scored a season-high 10 points in the Beacons’ home game against Illinois State. Connolly maintains a 3.50 cumulative GPA as a business marketing major.
Rhoades started all 31 of her appearances for the Beacons in 2024-25, averaging 6.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. She scored in double figures 11 times, including five of her last six appearances — highlighted by a career-best 13 points in Valpo’s home win over Evansville. Rhoades holds a 3.806 cumulative GPA as a biology major.