LMU’s Leah Donoff Named ITA Southeast Region Rookie Of The Year

HARROGATE, TN - Lincoln Memorial University freshman women's tennis player Leah Donoff continues to earn accolades from the 2009-10 season. On Thursday afternoon, the ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) released it's list of regional award winners for NCAA Division II women's tennis. Donoff was named Southeast Region Rookie of the Year, topping the list of Division II freshman players throughout the entire southeast United States.

A product of Tipp City, Ohio, in only her first season with the LMU women's tennis program, Donoff helped the Lady Railsplitters capture both the South Atlantic Conference regular season and conference tournament titles while leading the team to it's first NCAA Regional Tournament appearance since 2006.

Donoff's efforts on the court this season allowed her to earn First Team All-South Atlantic Conference, South Atlantic Conference Freshman of the Year, South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year and South Atlantic Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player in addition to several team awards she received at the University's annual athletics banquet in late April.

During the 2010 spring season, Donoff turned in a 19-3 singles record, while pairing with teammates Melanie Smith (Manchester, Kentucky) and Ann-Sophie Indeherberge (ZonHoven, Belgium) to finish the year with a 19-2 doubles mark.