Poltavski Named First Team All-NWC for Third Consecutive Season

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University women's tennis player Denise Poltavski (Sr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS) has been selected First Team All-Northwest Conference for the third consecutive season, as determined by the NWC head coaches. Poltavski previously earned First Team All-NWC honors in 2012-13 and 2013-14 after being named Second Team All-NWC in 2011-12.

"It shows how respected she was by the other head coaches in the conference," Willamette Head Coach Becky Roberts said. "Her record supports their decision to name her a three-time First Team All-NWC selection. She always gave 100% even though she struggled in some matches with injuries this year."

For the current season, a total of eight players were chosen First Team All-NWC. An additional eight players were named Second Team All-NWC. Courtney Lawless, a senior from Whitman College, was selected NWC Women's Tennis Player of the Year for the third year in a row. Head Coach John Hein of Whitman was named NWC Women's Tennis Coach of the Year.

First Team All-Northwest Conference

Poltavski earned an 11-6 record at #1 singles this season and went 10-8 at #1 doubles. She reached the Round of 16 in singles at the ITA Northwest Regional in the fall of 2014.

In her career with the Bearcats, 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. This year, all of her doubles matches were played along side freshman teammate Mikaila Smith (Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS).

During the 2014 spring season, Poltavski was 12-3 at #2 singles and went 13-2 at #1 doubles with Sabrina Gutierrez ('14). Poltavski was 13-2 overall and 11-0 in the NWC in singles as a freshman in the spring of 2012. As a sophomore, she went 8-7 in the spring in singles, including 8-4 in the NWC.