ITA RELEASE

TEMPE, Ariz.—Skidmore College senior Risa Fukushige received the 2020-21 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division III Women's Most Improved Senior Award.
 
The recent graduate was previously was named ITA Northeast Senior Player of the Year and Northeast Most Improved Senior.
 
From the ITA:  Risa Fukushige's transformation from first stepping foot on the courts as a Skidmore freshman to ending her career as a four-time ITA All-American is remarkable. Her freshman year Risa was constantly competing for a spot in the lineup and at times dropped out of the doubles lineup. Despite struggling early in the season, Risa showed improvement during the end and put together a 16-9 record. The next three years Risa's work ethic was on full display and the results were clear to see.

During her sophomore year, she won the ITA Northeast Regional Singles Championship, qualified for the NCAA Singles tournament, and finished ranked No. 14 in the country. Her improvement continued into her junior season and she finished with a 12-1 record on the shortened season. In her final season, she finished ranked No. 8 in the nation and with a 7-1 record.
Throughout her time with Skidmore, Risa was regularly recognized with the team Workhorse Award for the hardest working student-athlete. She was also a constant sportswoman -- always winning and losing with grace.

"It's great to see Risa get these prestigious regional and national accolades," said Skidmore coach Curt Speerschneider. "She's been such an important part of our program the last four years I'm happy that she can go out on such a positive note after going through so much the last two years. 
 
"To win the Senior Player of the Year in a region with more top ranked programs than any other region is remarkable.  Winning the National Most Improved Senior I think really shows what kind of person and player Risa is.  Her improvement the last four years, even thru COVID, has been astounding. 
 
"She's easily one of the most coachable players I've ever had and was always willing to listen, learn, and do, even if it meant stepping out of her comfort zone.  She has consistently been one of the hardest workers on the team as well, putting full effort into every point of every practice or match.  It was just a pure joy to watch her compete and out work her opponents.  That willingness to learn, work ethic, and heart to compete is what drives improvement and ultimately success, and Risa possesses all of those characteristics.  She'll go down as one of the all-time Thoroughbred greats.  We'll miss her without a doubt."