VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State men's tennis senior Takeshi Taco and volleyball senior Kaia Baker were named the Herb and Linda Reinhard Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year, respectively, announced at the annual awards banquet this past Wednesday evening.
 
The VSU Student Athlete Advisory Community (SAAC) unanimously voted in February, 2024, to renaming of the two most prestigious department awards bestowed upon a student-athlete.  In a heartfelt tribute to the enduring legacy and profound impact on VSU athletics, the award was renamed to the Herb and Linda Reinhard Male and Female Student Athletes of the Year Award.  The renaming of these awards symbolizes the deep appreciation for the Reinhard's unwavering support of the VSU student-athletes and serves as a lasting testament to their remarkable contributions to the university's athletic community.  Mr. Reinhard retired in June, 2024, after 32 years as the Director of Athletics at VSU.
 
The criteria for the award include the student athletes must be a junior, senior or graduate student, have been at VSU for at least one full academic year, have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0 and voted on by the athletic administration.  Ties are not broken and both academic and athletic achievement is taken into consideration for the award.  
 
In addition to the Male and Female Athletes of the Year Awards, the Student-Athlete Academic Awards were announced as baseball graduate student Farid Eljaiek and softball junior Jayme Prandine were named the Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year, respectively.
 
With community service a big part of what the Blazers do, the department had a total of 1,863 community service hours for the year.  The 2024-25 Dr. F. Lamar and Nancy Pearson Community Service Award went to the Blazer volleyball team for an average of 40 community service hours per person and a combined team total of 681 hours.  The individual community service award went to volleyball sophomore Lily Glover with a total of 74 community service hours.
 
Taco, a native of Lima, Peru, has been a force for the Blazer men's tennis team this season as he is No. 2 nationally in singles and has a 20-1 record this season, while he is 15-3 in doubles with senior teammate Xaveam Van Wijk as the duo is ranked tenth nationally.  He has helped lead the defending national champion Blazers to an undefeated season in 2025 at 18-0 and 34-straight wins dating back to last season.  The Blazers won the outright Gulf South Conference regular season title this season and are playing Apr. 25 in the Gulf South Conference semifinals at 3:30 p.m. ET versus Mississippi College.  
 
This past fall, Taco won the ITA National Championship, while he earned Gulf South Conference first team all-league honors for the second-straight season.  Last season, he earned ITA All-America honors in singles in his first year in Titletown.  Throughout his time at VSU, he has showcased not only his athletic excellence, but also in the classroom as an applied economics major where he has complied a 3.57 grade point average and will graduate this May.  
 
The men's tennis team was unable to be at the awards banquet on Wednesday as the team was traveling to the conference championship in Montgomery, Ala.
 
Baker, a native of Porta Westfalica, Germany, had an impressive year for the Blazer volleyball team. In her senior season, she started all 31 matches at libero, leading the Gulf South Conference in total digs with 579 - ranking 14th nationally - and averaging 5.03 digs per set, good for 32nd in the nation. She also recorded 43 service aces, 12 kills, and 68 assists, showcasing her all-around impact on the court.  
 
On Nov. 9 against Mississippi College, Baker surpassed 1,500 career digs both at VSU and Eastern Arizona College, marking a major career milestone. Her outstanding performance earned her the title of 2024 GSC Libero of the Year, First Team All-GSC honors, a spot on the D2CCA All-Region First Team, and selection to both the GSC All-Academic Team and the GSC Honor Roll.  Off the court, she maintains a 3.71 cumulative GPA and will graduate in May with a bachelor of science degree in biology.
 
Eljaiek, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., holds a 3.93 cumulative GPA and has earned Dean's List honors for three-straight semesters.  He was named to the GSC Academic Honor Roll last year.  He completed his bachelor's degree in organizational leadership this past December, he seamlessly transitioned into graduate studies and now is pursuing a master's degree in business administration – a clear testament to his drive for continued learning and growth. 
 
While excelling in the classroom, he has also made valuable contributions as a student-athlete. A consistent performer for the Blazer baseball team, as of this weekend, he has appeared in 42 games this season with 27 starts, primarily anchoring centerfield. Offensively, he's batting .316 with 31 hits in 98 at-bats, 12 RBIs, and just 12 strikeouts - the fewest among qualified hitters on the team. He's added five stolen bases and maintains an impressive .407 on-base percentage.  His ability to balance the rigors of graduate-level coursework with the demands of collegiate athletics speaks volumes about his discipline, leadership, and character.
 
Prandine, a native of Bradenton, Fla., has displayed excellence on both the field and in the classroom. A junior majoring in communications disorders, she has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to her studies, earning a remarkable 3.96 cumulative GPA. Balancing the rigorous demands of academics and athletics, she continues to set the standard for what it means to be a student-athlete.
 
She is a two-time member of the GSC Academic Honor Roll and a shining example of consistency, discipline, and excellence in the classroom. Her drive, leadership, and dedication have not gone unnoticed by faculty, teammates, and coaches alike.  While her academic record is exceptional, she's also made her mark at the softball diamond - appearing in 44 games with 34 starts in the infield this season. She has hit .242 with 19 runs scored, 23 hits, six doubles, two home runs, and 10 RBI's, while posting a .368 slugging percentage and a .315 on-base percentage.  She earned Second Team All-GSC honors in 2023 and continues to be a key contributor for the Red and Black.