Wagner Selected as ACC Player of the Week
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – For the second time in as many weeks, the ACC Women’s Tennis Player of the Week is a Miami Hurricane.
Junior Stephanie Wagner was announced as the honoree Tuesday afternoon by the conference after posting a 4-0 record over the weekend to lead No. 14 Miami to a pair of ACC road victories.
“I am excited to hear I won ACC Player of the Week,” Wagner said. “This weekend made me realize that I have to make some adjustments on and off the court to help myself, and especially my team, do very special things this season. Now it’s time to fight and hold each other accountable on and off the court.”
All four of Wagner’s wins came at the top position, with two in doubles play and two in singles competition.
The Amberg, Germany native’s first victory was her narrowest, a doubles win against Valeria Salazar and Komal Safdar of No. 67 Syracuse Friday. Wagner teamed with senior Lina Lileikite, together the seventh ranked pair in the nation, for an 8-7 (7-5) win. The victory was quite significant for the Hurricanes, as it was third doubles match to finish and clinched the point for Miami.
In singles play, the 10th-ranked Wagner took down Syracuse’s Amanda Rodgers, 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) to help Miami (8-2, 4-0 ACC) sweep the singles matches in a 7-0 win.
Facing No. 45 Boston College Sunday after a tough weekend of travel, the Hurricanes needed Wagner to come through once again, and that she did. In doubles action, Wagner and Lileikite put forth a stellar effort for an 8-3 win against the Eagles’ Lexi Borr and Jessica Wacnik.
Wagner then defeated Wacnik again, this time in singles play. Ranked No. 71, Wacnik won the opening set, but Wagner took over from there and went on to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Miami would take the match 5-2 to keep its record unblemished in ACC play.
“I’m really proud of how far Steffi has come,” Miami head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “She’s getting better with each week and looking to peak in May.”
A First Team All-ACC selection last year, Wagner has posted a 5-1 record in singles dual matches this spring, with all of them at top position. Wagner is undefeated in ACC play in both singles and doubles, and she Lileikite were two points away from defeating the nation’s top-ranked pair from Clemson when play ended.
Wagner and the Hurricanes are back in action Sunday, March 15 at 10:30 a.m. when they face No. 56 Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
For more information on University of Miami women’s tennis, follow @HurricaneTennis.
