Women's Tennis Wins 3 ITA Regional Awards
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s tennis team won three ITA Southeast Region awards for the first time in program history.
Head women’s tennis coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews was named the 2013 Southeast Region Coach of the Year, assistant coach Alex Santos was voted the 2013 Southeast Assistant Coach of the Year and freshman Stephanie Wagner was selected as the 2013 Southeast Region Rookie of the Year. All three awards are firsts in the history of Miami women’s tennis.
“This is a nice honor for our entire program, very well deserved for both Alex and Steffi,” Yaroshuk-Tews said. “It’s great when hard work is recognized by your peers.”
Yaroshuk-Tews was recognized as the Southeast Region Coach of the Year after guiding the Hurricanes to another outstanding season. In her 12th year coaching the Canes, Yaroshuk-Tews saw her team clinch the first ACC Tournament championship in program history.
Following their successful run in the conference tournament, the Canes were named the No. 6 seed for the 2013 NCAA women’s tennis tournament. Miami hosted a regional for the ninth consecutive season and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the eighth straight year after beating UNF and Purdue this past weekend.
The Canes (22-5) will face No. 11 Northwestern in Urbana, Ill., on Friday. Should Miami advance, the Hurricanes would reach the Elite Eight for a record fifth consecutive year. Only Miami and Duke can claim active Elite Eight streaks of four consecutive years.
Santos, in his third season as an assistant coach with the Hurricanes, has played an important role in the development of this year’s team. A native of Portugal, Santos’ main responsibilities are recruiting, scouting and working alongside strength and conditioning coach Cols Colas in developing a training program that focuses on improving agility, quickness, speed and power.
Under the guidance of Yaroshuk-Tews and Santos, as well as volunteer coach Laura Vallverdu, Wagner has been a key player of the Hurricanes this season.
The freshman has compiled a 20-7 singles record, playing mostly from the No. 1 position for Miami. Wagner’s singles success helped her earn a selection on the 2013 All-ACC Team. She is also the first singles alternate for the 2013 NCAA Championship.
A native of Amberg, Germany, Wagner has climbed as high as No. 53 in the ITA Singles Rankings (April 16, 2013) and is currently ranked No. 60. Wagner has compiled an impressive 18-7 record in doubles, pairing with sophomore Line Lileikite (13-7) and junior Brittany Dubins (5-0) throughout the 2012-13 season.
Yaroshuk-Tews, Santos and Wagner are each on the ballot to win their respective national awards and will go up against winners from the nation’s other 11 regions. National award winners will be announced by the ITA at a later date.
The Hurricanes have now earned at least one ITA Southeast Region award in eight of the past 10 years.
Miami’s ITA Southeast Region Award Winners
2013
Coach of the Year – Paige Yaroshuk-Tews
Assistant Coach of the Year – Alex Santos
Rookie of the Year – Stephanie Wagner
2011
Senior Player of the Year – Bianca Eichkorn
2010
Player to Watch – Bianca Eichkorn
2009
Player to Watch – Julia Cohen
2007
Player to Watch – Laura Vallverdu
2006
Ashe Award for Leadership & Sportsmanship – Audrey Banada
2005
Senior Player of the Year – Megan Bradley
2004
Leary Sportsmanship Award – Megan Bradley
