TEMPE, Ariz. - Stanford was well represented among the ITA's Regional Awards program on Monday, with seniors Emily Arbuthnott and Emma Higuchi included as recipients.
Arbuthnott and Higuchi remain in the running for the ITA National Awards, which will be announced next week in a virtual awards ceremony.
A two-time NCAA team champion (2018-19) and three-time Pac-12 team champion (2017-19), Arbuthnott was honored as the region's Most Improved Senior. Arbuthnott is a two-time All-Pac-12 selection (2018-19) who compiled a 101-26 overall singles record and a 66-11 mark in duals. Of her 101 career singles victories, 30 were match clinchers. One of the most dependable players in school history during NCAA competition, Arbuthnott competed at the No. 5 spot as a freshman before progressing into her current role at the No. 2 position.
Arbuthnott has been equally successful in the classroom, maintaining a 4.16 cumulative GPA as an Economics major. Arbuthnott was a 2019 CoSIDA Academic First Team All-American and remains in the running for the same award this season. A three-time ITA Scholar-Athlete (2017-19) and two-time Pac-12 All-Academic selection (2018-19), Arbuthnott served as head of The Social Project student association, an organization dedicated to identifying opportunities to expand campus student life.
A two-time NCAA team champion (2018-19) and three-time Pac-12 team champion (2017-19), Higuchi was recognized as the region's Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award, which honors a student-athlete who displays inspiring dedication and commitment to her team and exemplifies the spirit of college tennis. The award dates back to 1997 and is in memory of the late and widely admired Penn women's tennis coach Cissie Leary.
Higuchi is a two-time All-Pac-12 selection (2017-18) who finished her career with a 94-18 overall record and went 65-9 in duals. Higuchi, who won 47 individual sets by a score of 6-0 and 11 matches by a score of 6-0, 6-0, was a mainstay at the No. 6 spot in the lineup.
Sporting a 3.41 cumulative GPA, Higuchi was a two-time Pac-12 All-Academic selection (2018-19), member of Chi Omega Fraternity sorority and the vice president of SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) Community Service. Higuchi is one of the most respected players in college tennis, appreciated for her sportsmanship and fair play.