Skillman, NJ --- Junior Erin Desmarais (Gardner, MA) along with sophomore teammates Brooke Michanczyk (Middletown, CT) and Laura Sarkis (W. Springfield, MA) have all earned Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division III Scholar Athlete awards.
To earn ITA Scholar Athlete laurels, one must be a varsity award winner, have a grade point average higher than 3.50 and must be enrolled at their current institution for at least two semesters through their senior year.
Worcester State University was also lauded for being one of 86 women's tennis teams to have a team grade point average over 3.30. Nine Lancers combined for a stellar GPA of 3.37 for the 2011-12 academic year.
Approximately 525 female student-athletes were honored by the ITA. Among the 23 New England schools, Smith and Colby had the most with nine individuals while the WSU had the most in the Little East Conference with three.
Among LEC schools, Samantha Counts (Bridgewater, MA) of UMass Boston and Lydia Smith (Marblehead, MA) of Plymouth State also earned the prestigious accolade.
All three return to a squad that looks to build on their 4-9 record (1-7 LEC) last season. Michanczyk and Sarkis combined for 10 wins in singles action while Desmarais teamed for a 5-3 mark in pairs play.
Sarkis, who competed on the field hockey team in her freshman year, was honored with Gladiator/SGI NHFCA All-Academic team honors and was a part of the team during the 2009-10 academic year that led Division I, II and III with a 3.57 grade point average.
Desmarais, Michanczyk and Sarkis were also honored with Little East Fall All-Academic Team certificates last season.
The Lancers will open their season on the road on September 1 at Newbury College.