Michigan Honored as ITA All-Academic Team
8/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
SKILLMAN, N.J. -- The University of Michigan women's tennis team was selected as an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic Team, while Lindsey Howard(Richmond, Va.-Mills C. Godwin), Whitney Taney(Edina, Minn./Edina) and Rika Tatsuno(Rancho Palas Verdes, Calif./Palas Verdes Peninsula) were all selected as ITA Scholar-Athletes. The team selection marks the seventh time the Wolverines have earned the distinction and the first since 2007.
Howard was recognized by the ITA for the third time in her career; she also earned the distinction in 2006 and 2008. During her tenure in the Maize and Blue, she was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten Conference selection and a four-time U-M Athletic Academic Achievement honoree. The two-time captain wrapped up her career in 2009 with a 40-34 overall mark in singles and a 71-43 mark in doubles.
Taney, a first-time ITA Scholar-Athlete honoree, compiled a 15-10 singles mark and a 27-6 doubles record in 2009 while ending the season ranked No. 26 in the final ITA regional rankings. The junior was also selected as an Academic All-Big Ten honoree in addition to earning U-M's Big Ten Sportsmanship award following the 2009 campaign.
Tatsuno, a 2009 Academic All-Big Ten selection, picked up ITA academic accolades for the first time in her career. In 2009, Tatsuno went 24-13 in singles play and 22-12 in doubles to earn All-Big Ten honors and Big Ten Athlete of the Week twice. She led the team in wins and ended the season ranked 102nd nationally and 11th regionally.
The ITA All-Academic Team award is open to any ITA program that has a cumulative team grade-point average of 3.20 or above (on a 4.00 scale). All eligible student-athletes whose names appear on the NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA eligibility form and have competed in one or more varsity matches must average into the GPA for the current academic year, including both fall 2008 and spring 2009.
In order to earn ITA Scholar-Athlete status, a player must be a varsity letterwinner, have a grade-point average of at least 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year and have been enrolled at their present school for at least two semesters (including freshman through senior year).
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Contact: Sarah VanMetre (734) 763-4423
