Wednesday, May 14, 2008

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (May 14, 2008) - Senior women's tennis standout Olya Batsula (Minsk, Belarus) was recently awarded the ITA/Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship in the Southeast Division.

The Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship goes to a women's player who displays inspiring dedication and commitment to her team, which has enhanced her team's performance and exemplified the spirit of college tennis. National winners will be announced May 20. Regional award winners are finalists for the national awards.

"It is a great honor for Olya to receive this award," said head coach Steve Brooks. "In three and a half years she has transformed from a hard-nosed competitor into a great friend and leader both on and off the court."

This past season, Batsula compiled a 22-11 overall record, was 15-6 in dual play, and was 11-0 in conference play. She ends her career with 86 victories and is third on the all-time wins list. Additionally, Batsula graduated Magna Cum Laude and was named the 2008 Buccaneer Leadership Award winner and earned the Faculty Award in the Department of Kinesiology, Leisure and Sport Sciences.

As team captain for the Lady Bucs she was also a National Leadershape Conference participant, a member of the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society, was an ITA Scholar Athlete for three years, was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was awarded the Buc Wild competition by attending more than 50 athletic events not in her own sport.

A complete listing of the finalists for the national ITA/Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship is listed below.