Bearcat Women's Tennis Team Receives ITA All-Academic Recognition

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's tennis squad has been selected as an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic Team for the 2012-13 season as a result of the Bearcats' success in the classroom. The Bearcats qualified for the award by achieving a team cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Five members of the WU women's tennis team also earned recognition as 2012-13 ITA Scholar-Athletes. They were Mandy Carlson (Fr., Boise, ID/Bishop Kelly HS), Yasmine Genena (Fr., Portland, OR/Lake Oswego HS), Lizzie Kubitz (So., Anchorage, AL/West Anchorage HS), Stephanie Matsuura (Fr., Hilo, HI/Waiakea HS) and Holly Petersen (Fr., Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS).

Carlson and Matsuura are majoring in Biology. Kubitz is majoring in Politics, Petersen is working on a major in Physics, and Genena is undecided regarding her major.

"Congratulations to the women's tennis team for being dedicated on the court and in the classroom!," Willamette Head Coach Becky Roberts said. "These award achievements are just another example of what Willamette students are all about."

A total of 79 women's tennis teams competing in NCAA Division III qualified for the All-Academic Team award in 2012-13. Individual ITA Scholar-Athlete honors went to 472 women's tennis players in Division III.

Players earning ITA Scholar-Athlete status were required to achieve at least a 3.5 grade point average (4.0 scale) during the academic year. They also had to be letterwinners on their respective teams and had to attend their current colleges or universities for at least one full academic year by the end of the season.

Roberts completed her 13th season as Willamette's head coach in 2012-13. The Bearcats featured a young team with no seniors, one junior, two sophomores and six freshmen.