Yue Lin 'Polly' Chen Selected as Nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— University of New Mexico Tennis’ Yue Lin “Polly” Chen has been named an NCAA Woman of the Year nominee, as announced by the NCAA on Thursday.  She joins fellow Lobo ANdrea Howard of the softball team as UNM’s nominees, giving UNM a pair.  Together they are two of the nine nominees from the Mountain West.

The Woman of the Year award highlights four pillars: academics, athletics, service and leadership, and this year marks the 32nd year of the Woman of the Year Award program. To be eligible, a nominee must have competed and earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport and must have earned her undergraduate degree by Summer 2022.

Chen was one of 577 nominees from member schools, 248 which were Division I. School nominees will now go to the conference level, with each conference selecting one member to nominate, which will be announced in mid-August.

Chen played No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles, recording 20 wins on the season.  She was named All-Mountain West in both in 2022 as well as 2021. In addition, she maintained a 4.04 GPA and graduated with a business degree.  She was a five-time member of the MW All-Academic Team and five-time MW Scholar-Athlete.