Tachibana Named Ivy League Rookie of the Year; Women's Tennis Names Four to All-League Teams

Freshman Hideko Tachibana was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year, the league announced Thursday afternoon. Tachibana was one of four women's tennis players to earn All-Ivy League honors.

Sophomore Holly Cao joined Tachibana on the All-Ivy League first team, and the duo of Cao and junior Samantha Rosekrans was named to the doubles first-team. Freshman Kristin Norton garnered second-team honors and the pair of Norton and Tachibana earned a spot on the doubles second team.

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Tachibana, a unanimous selection by the league coaches, posted a 14-6 record in dual matches at the No. 2 singles spot and a 6-1 mark in conference play. She closed out the regular season by winning seven of her final eight matches. Tachibana is the first Crimson tennis player to earn Rookie of the Year honors since Laura Peterzan '09 earned the distinction in 2006.

Cao, the winner of 15 matches this spring, posted a 5-2 mark in Ivy League play. Rosekrans and Cao paired up in the No. 1 doubles matches this season and accumulated an 11-8 record with a 5-2 record in conference matches.

Norton compiled a 14-6 record in her freshman campaign, playing in the No. 3 singles spot. Against Ancient Eight opponents, Norton went 5-2. Tachibana and Norton teamed up for a 9-8 record in No. 2 doubles matches, posting a 5-2 mark in conference play.

The Crimson, winners of its final four matches and eight of its last nine, wrapped up the regular season with a 14-7 overall record and a 6-1 mark in the Ivy League. In the latest ITA/Campbell's Women's Tennis Rankings, Harvard is No. 41, its highest ranking since Jan. 30, 2007. The team now awaits announcement regarding a possible at-large birth to the NCAA Tournament. The selection show can be seen on ESPNews Tuesday, May 4 between 5-6 p.m., and the first round of the tournament begins Friday, May 14 at campus sites.