FREDERICKSBURG—Lindsay Raulston is starting her college tennis career right where she left off at Southampton Academy.

The University of Mary Washington freshman and Franklin native was named Rookie of the Year in the Capital Athletic Conference.

The already hardworking Raulston said the award will make her try even harder.

“I’m excited to get it,” Raulston said. “It definitely keeps me going.”

She went 17-2 this year in singles and moved from the No. 5 seed for the Eagles to the No. 3 seed. Raulston was 14-7 in doubles action. She started the year on the No. 3 seed doubles team, but moved up to the No. 2 seed.

A biology major who has hopes of becoming a doctor, Raulston was also selected as a first team all-conference performer in singles and doubles play.

While her record this year is impressive, Raulston said she would like to continue to improve as a player moving forward throughout her career.

“I want to improve as much as I can,” she said.

It’s that kind of drive that made the three-sport high school athlete excel at most things she attempted, said her mother, Sheryl Raulston.

Lindsay Raulston was a Virginia Commonwealth Conference Most Valuable Player in volleyball, scored 1,000 points in basketball at Southampton Academy and was a nationally ranked tennis player individually.

“She always wanted to be the best at everything,” Sheryl Raulston said.

Lindsay Raulston was Virginia’s representative for the Wendy’s High School Heisman award while at SA.

She also traveled to compete in tennis tournaments and has taken lessons from Camp YMCA and Cypress Cove Country Club tennis pro Ken Cussick.

Cussick said after about a year with her, he saw things start to fall in place, and he’s still impressed with her work ethic.

“She pushes herself,” Cussick said. “She’s not ever satisfied. She still gets frustrated and that’s a good thing.”

Raulston said Cussick has helped her improve so much over the years. She said her serve and forehand have improved especially under his coaching.

“I definitely owe him a lot,” she said.

Raulston said UMW Head Coach Patrick Catullo has helped her focus on on-court strategy.

She owes a lot to her mother and father, Hugh, for pushing her to continue with tennis. Her brother, Sean, is a freshman at Southampton Academy, where he plays basketball and baseball.