Linfield University women's tennis players
Lexie Matsunaga and
Sarah Forester were named Thursday to the Division III Academic All-America Women's Tennis Team by the College Sports Communicators.
The Linfield duo are among a prestigious group of 18 Academic All-Americans being recognized for combined academic and athletic accomplishment across Division III women's tennis. Both Wildcats maintained perfect 4.00 grade point averages. Matsunaga landed on the Academic All-America second team while Forester was appointed to the third team.
Hailing from Aiea, Hawaii, Matsunaga compiled a long list of academic and athletic honors. She twice received the Order of Omega Academic Excellence Award, was a two-time recipient of the Academic All-Star Award from the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and most recently was chosen to receive SAAC's 2023 "Wildcat Award."
During her time at Linfield, Matsunaga received two prestigious scholarships: the Lois Gunning Fry Chemistry Scholarship Award in 2021 and the Albert W. Stout Chemistry Scholarship Award in 2022.
A three-time Northwest Conference all-star on the tennis court, Matsunaga compiled an 8-3 singles record and went 10-4 in doubles play this spring.
Most recently, she represented the Linfield graduating Class of 2023 as its student speaker at the May 28 Commencement ceremony. Matsunaga completed bachelor's degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology and plans to attend graduate school while pursuing a career in oncology.
A Corvallis native, Forester is also majoring in biochemistry. Her academic honors include receiving the 2021 Outstanding Linfield Freshman in Chemistry Award. She was a two-time recipient of the Erickson-Cole Endowed Scholarship and earned the 2021 Good Samaritan Virginia Welch Scholarship.
During dual matches this spring, Forester assembled identical 10-3 win-loss records in singles and doubles, leading Linfield to a runner-up finish in the Northwest Conference.
Once she graduates in the spring of 2024, Forester is eyeing a career in the field of physical therapy.
Matsunaga and Forester become the second and third Linfield women's tennis players to receive Academic All-America distinction. They join Hall of Fame inductee Becca Johnson, who was named to the AAA team in 2007.
