Perez-Somarriba Named ITA National Player to Watch
WINSTON-SALEM., N.C. – Estela Perez-Somarriba of the University of Miami women’s tennis team earned ITA National Player to Watch honors, as announced Tuesday morning at the ITA awards celebration at BB&T Field.
The sophomore becomes the fourth Hurricane to garner the elite recognition, including the second in four years, joining Stephanie Wagner (2015), Melissa Mazzotta (1991) and Ronni Reis (1986).
“Watching Estela’s progress since her freshman year has been truly remarkable and fun,” Miami associate head coach Laura Vallverdu said. “Her ambition for getting better every day is astonishing. I am glad that her efforts and commitment to her tennis are being nationally recognized. I’m looking forward to seeing much more from her.”
Ranked third in the country and seeded third in the NCAA Singles Championship, Perez-Somarriba is in the midst of one of the finest singles campaigns in Miami’s illustrious program history.
The Madrid native is 37-7 on the season, including 26-2 in the spring. She went 23-2 in dual matches, competing at the top spot in each contest, and has lost just eight sets in 2018.
Perez-Somarriba is 18-4 against ranked players this year, including 13-2 against top-65 foes, 9-2 versus top-30 opponents and 5-1 against top-10 players. This spring alone, she is 13-2 versus ranked foes.
The 2018 ACC Player of the Year and a two-time First Team All-ACC honoree, Perez-Somarriba logged four ACC Player of the Week accolades this season.
An NCAA Singles Championship semifinalist and ITA All-American a year ago, Perez-Somarriba has already clinched her second straight ITA All-America honor. She is 71-14 in her career in singles action, including 53-6 in the spring, 31-3 at No. 1 and 30-8 against ranked opponents.
The Player to Watch honor goes to an individual with remaining eligibility who has been ranked at least regionally, but has not won an ITA regional or national title.
The national winner is selected from the regional winners by the ITA National Awards Committee, which is comprised of one representative from each region, pus the Chair and Associate Chair of the DI Operating Committee.
To keep up with the University of Miami women’s tennis team on social media, follow @CanesWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
