IUP's Joanna Stralka earns Elite 90™ award for NCAA Division II Women's Tennis
SURPRISE, Ariz. – Indiana University of Pennsylvania sophomore Joanna Stralka is the recipient of the Elite 90™ award for the 2021 NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Championship.
The award was presented by Abby Davis, the chair of the NCAA Division II National Committee, during an on-court ceremony prior to the start of the Crimson Hawks' national quarterfinal match against Central Oklahoma Wednesday at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Center.
Stralka, a biology major, carries a 4.00 grade point average. She becomes the seventh Elite 90™ honoree for IUP since the program was initiated prior to the 2009-10 academic year. She's the fourth IUP women's tennis student-athlete to win the award, joining Luise von Agris in 2016, Tabtip Louhabanjong in 2012 and Kelly McBryan in 2011.
Stralka suffered through a near-season-long injury, making her return in time for NCAA regional play. She went 2-0 in doubles play for the Atlantic Region champs, while also competing at the No. 3 singles spot. Stralka garnered ITA Atlantic Region Freshman of the Year honors in 2019-20 after claiming the singles title at the 2019 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships. The native of Stockholm, Sweden led the team with a 19-2 overall record and finished as the No. 2-ranked singles player in the region.
The Elite 90™, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at he national championship level in his or her sport, which also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers.
The Elite 90™ is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomore or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, visit NCAA.com/elite-90.
ABOUT THE PSAC
Headquartered in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference comprised of 18 institutions in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The member institutions are Bloomsburg University, California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion University, East Stroudsburg University, Edinboro University, Gannon University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown University, Lock Haven University, Mansfield University, Mercyhurst University, Millersville University, The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Seton Hill University, Shepherd University, Shippensburg University, Slippery Rock University and West Chester University.