As a follow up to the All-University Athletic Association team being released Monday afternoon, five members of the Emory University women's tennis team were selected as 2020 All-Americans by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Wednesday afternoon.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic shortening the spring season, the ITA adjusted its selection criteria as it continued the tradition of announcing its All-America teams. To be tabbed as an All-American in 2020 an individual must have met the following guidelines: finish in the Top 20 in the final Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Singles Rankings; finish in the Top 10 in the final Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Doubles Rankings; win a ITA Fall Regional Tournament; or win a first-round match at the ITA National Small College Championships (ITA Cup) in the fall.
Three Eagles were picked as All-Americans in singles competition: juniors Ysabel Gonzalez-Rico and Defne Olcay and freshman Alexa Goetz. In doubles, Olcay and Goetz garnered All-America acclaim as did sophomores Emma Cartledge and Christina Watson.
Gonzalez-Rico makes her third straight selection as an All-American in singles after finishing as the No. 3 player in the final ITA Division III Top-20 singles rankings. She went 5-2 in seven singles matches and carries a 70-14 overall singles record into the 2020-21 season.
Olcay is an All-American for the second straight year in doubles and earns her first career distinction in singles. She finished as the No. 16-ranked singles player in the final ITA national rankings and reached the quarterfinals of the ITA Cup doubles tournament while playing alongside Cartledge.
Goetz is the latest Emory rookie to collect All-America honors in both singles and doubles. She captured the ITA South regional singles crown and reached the quarterfinals of the ITA Cup singles draw. In doubles, she teamed with Watson to win the regional doubles title and were one of 16 doubles teams to compete at the ITA Cup in Rome, GA. Goetz ended the year as the No. 21-ranked singles player in the country and led the team in both singles (15) and doubles (16) victories.
Cartledge is a first-time All-American after reaching the doubles quarterfinals of the ITA with partner Olcay. The duo finished as the regional runner-up in the doubles draw and paced the Eagles with a 7-3 record during the fall. Cartledge added a 15-7 record in singles including a team-best seven singles wins in the spring and was the regional runner-up in the singles tournament.
Watson joins Goetz and Cartledge as a first-time All-American after teaming with Goetz to claim the ITA South regional championship in doubles. Watson was apart of 11 wins in doubles matches throughout the season and was a member of the No. 13-ranked doubles team in the final national rankings with junior Stephanie Taylor.
To read the full ITA release, please click here.