ST. LOUIS – Four members of the Drake University women's tennis team earned Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete distinctions, the league announced Thursday.
 
Carmen Palumbo and Liza Petushkova claimed spots on the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team while Kendall Hunt and Maria Tatarnikova garnered honorable mention recognition.
 
"I'm very proud to see our Drake student-athletes receive the MVC Scholar-Athlete honor," said Drake head coach Mai-Ly Tran. "They worked hard all year and have demonstrated a commitment to high-level achievement in both academics and athletics. Each of these student-athletes should be very proud of their accomplishments."
 
Palumbo, an All-MVC Select Team member in 2019, posted six singles wins and seven doubles victories this season. She found her form by winning three-straight singles matches before the season was canceled due to coronavirus. Palumbo maintains a 3.89 GPA as a law and politics major.
 
A two-time All-MVC Select Team honoree, Petushkova turned in another strong campaign in 2020. She finished the year having won five-straight singles matches and seven-straight doubles contests, helping her win MVC Singles Player of the Week twice and MVC Doubles Team of the Week four times. Petushkova and her doubles partner, Joely Lomas, finished the season ranked as the No. 71 pairing in the nation. Petushkova represented Drake at the No. 1 singles and doubles slots. She boasts a 3.65 GPA as a finance major.
 
Hunt totes a 4.0 GPA while studying graphic design and advertising. She posted a 5-3 record in singles play and a 6-3 mark in doubles action, including a 3-0 record between singles and doubles play in the spring. Hunt finished the season having won three-straight singles matches and two-straight doubles matches.
 
Tatarnikova led Drake with 11 singles wins between the fall and spring seasons, and her 11 doubles victories tied for second-most on the team. Tatarnikova was hitting her stride before the season was canceled, having won four-consecutive singles matches. She was a fixture for Drake at the No. 2 and 3 singles spots.  In addition, Tatarnikova and her doubles partner, Kelsey Neville, earned MVC Doubles Team of the Week on Jan. 28. Tatarnikova maintains a 3.66 GPA in computer science and information systems.