Wagner Chosen as ITA National Player to Watch
WACO, Texas – Junior Stephanie Wagner of the University of Miami women’s tennis team was honored by the ITA for the second time in as many weeks Tuesday.
After being tabbed as the ITA Southeast Region Player to Watch May 12, Wagner has now garnered an even more prestigious accolade, as she was named the recipient of the ITA National Player to Watch award.
“I think to get recognized for this award on a national level is really great motivation going into the NCAA individual championships,” Miami head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “Steffi has received a lot of awards this year that I think are very deserving and show the work that she has put in . . . Leading into next year, I think it is really going to kind of pave the way for her [as well].”
The honor is given to someone who has been ranked in the top-20, is regarded as one of the top returning players in the country, has had an outstanding career, and has yet to make the finals of an ITA national event. The selection pool comes from the 12 regional award winners as well as any at-large candidates the ITA National Awards Committee chooses to consider.
In addition to win the ITA’s National Player to Watch and Southeast Region Player to Watch awards this m, Wagner has already locked up 2015 ITA All-America honors by being seeded at the NCAA Singles Championship. She was previously named the ITA Southeast Region Rookie of the Year in 2013.
Wagner is currently ranked No. 11 in the nation in singles and has been in the top 11 the entire 2015 season. The Amberg, Germany native is also a part of the country’s No. 17 doubles pair, alongside senior Lina Lileikite, with whom she will participate in the NCAA Doubles Championship.
The three-time All-ACC selection is one of just 30 players in the nation named to the initial fields for both the NCAA Singles Championship and the NCAA Doubles Championship. She is among just 17 from that group seeded in either field, as she holds the No. 9-16 spot in the singles tournament.
Wagner is 16-5 in singles dual matches in 2015, including a 13-4 record at the No. 1 spot. She has posted 10 victories against nationally ranked opponents. Including the fall, Wagner has defeated three players ranked in the top 10 during her junior campaign.
In doubles play, Wagner is 8-4 at the top position and she is undefeated in 2015 against regional opponents in both singles and doubles competition.
Named a First Team All-ACC pick this season after finishing fourth in the all-conference voting, Wagner helped lead Miami (18-7, 12-2 ACC) to its 10th consecutive Sweet 16 appearance.
Wagner and ACC Freshman of the Year Sinead Lohan will begin play in the NCAA Singles Championship May 20. Wagner and Lileikite will then open play in the NCAA Doubles Championship the following day. All of the action is scheduled to take place at Baylor University in Waco.
To keep up with the trio of Hurricanes during the NCAA Championships, as well as learn more about University of Miami women’s tennis, follow @HurricaneTennis.
