May 17, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Penn State freshman women's tennis player Petra Januskova (Ottawa, Canada) was selected as the Atlantic Region Rookie Player of the Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). She is now one of 12 players eligible for the National Rookie Player of the Year award, which will be announced on May 25.
"Petra has made a huge impact at Penn State regionally and nationally," head coach Dawna Prevette said. "She is well deserving of this acknowledgement."
Januskova made an immediate impact for the Nittany Lions in the first singles slot where she picked up eight wins until being sidelined with an injury in late March. She posted convincing wins over 27th-ranked Pichittra Thongdach (6-0, 7-5) of Boise State and #42 Michaela Kissell (6-4, 6-2) in back-to-back matches, which propelled her to a national ranking of 66th in the ITA singles poll.
In doubles action, Januskova seven wins teaming primarily with Maria Prishlyak and Lauren McCarthy. The Ottawa, Canada native started her collegiate doubles career in style with back-to-back wins with partner McCarthy in the University of Kentucky Invitational. In dual matches, Januskova and Prishlyak posted doubles wins in wins against nationally-ranked Oklahoma and Marshall.