SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's tennis team has received the Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic Team award for the 2014-15 season. In addition, Denise Poltavski (Sr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS), Erin Tokutomi (Fr., Cupertino, CA/Homestead HS) and Kricia Ruano (Fr., Beaverton, OR/Aloha HS) earned ITA Scholar-Athlete status.
Qualifications for the ITA Scholar-Athlete award include having at least a 3.5 grade point average (4.0 scale) during the academic year. The ITA All-Academic Team honor requires a cumulative team GPA of at least 3.2 for all players on the team who competed in at least one match.
Poltavski, a Biology major, attained Scholar-Athlete recognition for the second year in a row. Tokutomi and Ruano each earned Scholar-Athlete honors for the first time after completing their initial season with the Bearcats for Head Coach Becky Roberts this spring. The Willamette women's tennis team has claimed the All-Academic Team award for three consecutive seasons.
During the season, Poltavski went 11-6 at #1 singles, including 7-4 in the Northwest Conference, and was 10-8 at #1 doubles. She was selected First Team All-NWC for third season in a row. She was named Second Team All-NWC as a freshman in 2011-12.
While competing in tennis all four years at Willamette, Poltavski attained a 44-18 record in singles matches played during the spring. She was 36-10 in NWC matches in singles and achieved a 29-18 record in NWC matches in doubles.
In the spring of 2014, she registered a 12-3 record at #2 singles and was 13-2 at #1 doubles. Poltavski and doubles partner Sabrina Gutierrez ('14) were ranked #10 in the West Region of NCAA Division III.
Ruano saw action in one match at #5 singles for the Bearcats this year. Tokutomi played in three matches at #6 singles and also competed in three matches at #3 doubles.
Throughout the nation, a total of 451 men's and women's tennis teams at the NCAA, NAIA and junior college levels earned the ITA All-Academic Team award. A total of 2,566 players at all levels of college tennis received Scholar-Athlete status.
Denise Poltavski earned Scholar-Athlete honors for the second consecutive year. She finished her WU career with a 44-18 record in singles matches in the spring.
