SKILLMAN, N.J. -- Five players on the Willamette University womens tennis team have been named ITA Scholar-Athletes for the 2006-07 season, as selected by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. The WU womens team also qualified for the ITA Team All-Academic Award.
Bearcats chosen for the list of ITA Scholar-Athletes from NCAA Division III womens tennis teams were Alaine Anderson (Jr., Santa Ana, CA/Foothills HS), Susan Butler (Sr., Boise, ID/Boise HS), Elise Helvie (So., Boise, ID/Bishop Kelly HS), Tiffany Kam (Jr., Pearl City, HI/Punahou HS) and Amy Omens (Fr., Murrieta, CA/Murrieta Valley HS). In order to attain ITA Scholar-Athlete status, student-athletes were required to achieve at least a 3.5 grade point average (4.0 scale) during the 2006-07 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 2006-07 season.
All of Willamettes womens tennis players helped the Bearcats qualify for the ITA All-Academic Award. Willamette was the only team from the Northwest Conference and one of just 57 NCAA Division III womens tennis programs nationwide to receive the All-Academic Award. Teams honored by the ITA for their academic success had to achieve at least a 3.2 cumulative team GPA.
Head Coach Becky Roberts was in her seventh season at Willamette in 2006-07. She guided the Bearcats to a Northwest Conference Tournament berth. Willamette lost two close matches in the NWC Tournament by 5-4 scores to end the season with a 7-15 overall record.
Anderson was named First Team All-NWC after earning an 18-3 singles record, including a 13-match winning streak to conclude the season. She was 14-1 in singles matches against NWC opponents during the regular season.
Alaine Anderson was named First Team All-Northwest Conference in 2006-07. Anderson was 18-3 in singles, including a 13-match winning streak to end the year.
