MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield women's tennis showed its determination as true student-athletes this season on the court and in the classroom, illustrated by the recent honor of being named as an Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic Team.
 
Six individual players were recognized for athletic ability as well for their commitment to academic excellence as ITA Scholar-Athletes for 2025.
 
The Wildcats were one of 165 Division III programs awarded with ITA All-Academic Team distinction in 2025, while 1,269 individuals were recognized as ITA Scholar-Athletes.
 
To be eligible for the award all individuals must have held a grade point average of 3.5 or higher for the past academic year, while teams earn the award by having a team GPA of 3.2 or better with all varsity letterwinners GPAs being included in the team average.
 
The following members of Linfield women's tennis were recognized as ITA Scholar-Athletes:
 
Samantha Baltz (Rio Rancho, N.M.)
Ana Benavides Rivera (Quito, Ecudaor)
Lilianna Cano (Jacksonville, Ore.)
Sundi King (Kihei, Hawaii)
Elise Reese (Philomath, Ore.)
Emma Tuttle (Ridgefield, Wash.)
 
"I am so very proud of these amazing young ladies," said head coach Phil Whitehead. "Being a student-athlete is not easy and being a high-achieving student-athlete while going through the stressors of a season like they just experienced is just so impressive. This is what it is all about, and these ladies are winners."
 
The Wildcats head into the 2025-26 season in the second year of the second stint as head coach for Whitehead, who previously served as head coach from 1988-94. Linfield begins its fall season on Sept. 20 in Forest Grove, Ore. at the Pre-ITA Tournament hosted by Pacific.
 
To follow Linfield Wildcats coverage all season long, visit golinfieldwildcats.com. Please consider following Linfield Athletics on Facebook, and @LinfieldSports on Instagram and X.com.