TEMPE, Ariz. – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced the 2016-17 Division II regional and national award winners on Monday, May 8, 2017, at the 2017 Division II NCAA Tennis Championships in Altamonte Springs, Florida.
Select coaches in the division comprised the regional and national awards committees.
NATIONAL AWARDS
WOMEN
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Dave Porter, BYU-Hawaii
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Leah Rutt, Dallas Baptist University
ITA Most Improved Player (Senior): Nicole Hoynaski, Hawai’i Pacific University
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Nannan “Dallas” Zhang, BYU-Hawaii
ITA Rookie of the Year: Leah Hemuli, BYU-Hawaii
ITA Player to Watch: Lara Meccico, Hawai’i Pacific University
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award: Ana Marija Banic, Dallas Baptist University
ITA Community Service Award: Palm Beach Atlantic University
Ana Marija Banic of Dallas Baptist University is the 2017 ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award winner. An ITA Scholar Athlete in 2015 and 2016, Banic has been named to the Heartland Conference President’s Honor Roll in Fall 2015 and Spring 2016, and has earned Dean’s Academic Honor List recognition five times. While at Lewis University, she was a SAAC representative. On the court, she’s currently ranked No. 10 in the South Central Region in singles and No. 5 in doubles.
Leah Hemuli of BYU-Hawaii is the ITA Rookie of the Year, as she’s helped guide her team to a perfect 27-0 record and No. 1 national ranking. Hemuli is ranked No. 12 nationally in doubles with teammate Karen Liu.
Lara Meccico of Hawai’i-Pacific University is the ITA Player to Watch. Currently No. 19 nationally in singles, Meccico is 14-1 at the No. 2 singles position, with her only loss coming to BYU-Hawaii. She’s defeated opponents from Armstrong, Barry, West Florida and Valdosta State.
Also from Hawai’i Pacific University, Nicole Hoynaski was named the ITA Most Improved Player (Senior) for this season. She’s posted an 18-1 record at No. 1 singles and is currently the nation’s No. 2-ranked singles player. Prior to this season her highest ranking was 17, and she primarily played No. 2 singles during her first three years.
Nannan “Dallas” Zhang of BYU-Hawaii, the current No. 1-ranked singles and doubles player in the Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Division II Women’s National Rankings, is unbeaten in both singles and doubles this season. Her career record in singles is 73-3 and 86-6 in doubles. She finished both the 2015 and 2016 season ranked No. 1 in singles, and was No. 4 in 2014. In doubles, she ended the 2016 season ranked No. 1, and was No. 3 in 2015 and No. 1 in 2014. Zhang won PacWest Player of the Year in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
MEN
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Derrick Racine, University of West Florida
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Yann Renault, Hawai’i Pacific University
ITA Most Improved Player (Senior): Nico Dreer, Barry University
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Ahmed Triki, Barry University
ITA Rookie of the Year: Oliver Frank, Azusa Pacific University
ITA Player to Watch: Jaime Bueno, Saint Leo University
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award: Christian Blodig, Southwest Baptist
ITA Community Service Award: Palm Beach Atlantic University
Christian Blodig of Southwest Baptist University is the 2017 ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award winner. A business management major, Blodig is set to graduate in December of 2017 with highest honors. He’s earned a Top 25 national doubles ranking, and a Top 10 regional ranking in both singles and doubles.
Oliver Frank of Azusa Pacific University is currently the No. 1-ranked singles player in the Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Division II Men’s National Rankings, and this year's ITA Rookie of the Year. Frank won the Division II national title at the 2016 ITA Oracle Cup, and also claimed the overall men’s singles ITA Oracle Cup championship, earning a spot in the 2016 USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships in the process. He’s dropped just two sets all season, and finished the regular season with a 20-0 record. In doubles, he’s posted a 19-3 record.
Jaime Bueno of Saint Leo University garnered the ITA Player to Watch award, based on his strong play at both singles and doubles. Bueno was 15-0 at the No. 3 singles position, including scoring a victory over a Top 5 nationally-ranked opponent, and was 8-0 at No. 3 doubles with teammate Willem van den Akker.
Nico Dreer of Barry University is the ITA Most Improved Player (Senior) recipient. Ranked No. 47 in the country in singles, Dreer went 17-0 in singles at the time of his nomination, a five-win improvement from last year’s 12-5 mark. Twelve of his 17 wins have come from the No. 4 singles position. Was named to the President’s List in the fall with a perfect 4.0 GPA, and has been a Dean’s List selection three times and a two-time ITA Academic All-American.
Ahmed Triki also of Barry University, is the ITA Senior Player of the Year. Triki, who finished runner-up to Frank at the 2016 ITA Oracle Cup, has established himself as one of the division’s top singles and doubles players. He’s currently ranked No. 3 nationally in singles and No. 2 in doubles. He’s a three-time ITA All-American in both singles and doubles, and a three-time first team All-Sunshine State Conference selection. Triki had a school-record 49-match unbeaten streak from his freshman to senior seasons, and was a member of the 2015 NCAA Division II National Championship at Barry that finished the season 26-0.
Palm Beach Atlantic University men’s and women’s tennis teams earned the ITA Community Service Award. The teams served close to 400 hours together, working with First Serves of Palm Beaches four days each week during the fall. They also helped promote and fundraise for Tennis for Better Life Foundation in Naples, Florida, and hosted an Easter Egg hunt for children in the local neighborhood around its athletic complex in West Palm Beach.
WOMEN'S REGIONAL AWARDS
West Region
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Dave Porter, BYU-Hawaii
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Yann Renault, Hawai´i Pacific University
ITA Most Improved Player (Senior): Nicole Hoynaski, Hawai’i Pacific University
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Nannan “Dallas” Zhang, BYU-Hawaii
ITA Rookie of the Year: Leah Hemuli, BYU-Hawaii
ITA Player to Watch: Leah Meccico, Hawai’i Pacific University
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award: Xin “Summer” Wen, BYU-Hawaii
ITA Community Service Award: University of Hawai’i, Hilo
Southeast Region
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Evan Isaacs, Columbus State University
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Esther Zuniga, University of North Georgia
ITA Most Improved Player (Senior): Rebecca Bruning, Anderson University
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Katherin Waidner, University of North Georgia
ITA Rookie of the Year: Beatriz Lopez, Columbus State University
ITA Player to Watch: Giorgia Vitale, Columbus State University
ITA Community Service Award: Lenoir Rhyne University
South Region
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Avi Kigel, Barry University
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Steve Schram, Barry University
ITA Most Improved Player (Senior): Marine Beugre-Guyot, Saint Leo University
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Luicelena Perez, Nova Southeastern University
ITA Rookie of the Year: Verena Schmid, Barry University
ITA Player to Watch: Sonja Larsen, Barry University
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award: Michaela Mignemi, Palm Beach Atlantic University
ITA Community Service Award: Palm Beach Atlantic University
South Central Region
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Daniel Hangstefer, Metro State University, Denver
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Leah Rutt, Dallas Baptist University
ITA Most Improved Player (Senior): Elena Preadca, Tarleton State University
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Camille Clausse-Pujo, St. Mary’s University (TX)
ITA Rookie of the Year: Tabitha Porter, Metro State University, Denver
ITA Player to Watch: Bethan Hayward, St. Edward’s University
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award: Ana Marija Banic, Dallas Baptist University
ITA Community Service Award: Midwestern State University
Midwest Region
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Philip Conley, Tiffin University
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Valentina Mazzola, Tiffin University
ITA Most Improved Player (Senior): Aimee Kaye, Tiffin University
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Caroline Nelhage, Tiffin University
ITA Rookie of the Year: Chung-Yen Huang, Drury University
ITA Player to Watch: Larissa Karl, Drury University
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award: Danielle Slonac, Saginaw Valley State University
ITA Community Service Award: University of Indianapolis
East Region
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Alan Nagel, Queens College
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Fabio Minami, Queens College
ITA Most Improved Player (Senior): Anastasiya Kolodiy, Holy Family University
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Abla Chadli, Southern New Hampshire University
ITA Rookie of the Year: Karla Miletic, University of the Sciences
ITA Player to Watch: Elkanah Linder, University of the Sciences
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award: Elizabeth Kallenberg, Adelphi
ITA Community Service Award: Southern New Hampshire University
Central Region
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Shawn Hamil, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Fanni Varga, Southwest Baptist University
ITA Most Improved Player (Senior): Lani Tuemmers, Southwest Baptist University
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Tawni Griffey, Emporia State
ITA Rookie of the Year: Sarah Brown, Southwest Baptist University
ITA Player to Watch: Sarah Durham, Emporia State
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award: Tamara Bell, Arkansas Tech University
ITA Community Service Award: Arkansas Tech University
Atlantic Region
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Larry Peterson, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Alex Bush, Edinboro University
ITA Most Improved Player (Senior): Annie Baich, Mercyhurst
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Raquel Gonzalez, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
ITA Rookie of the Year: Kiersten Hensley, West Virginia State
ITA Player to Watch: Luise Von Agris, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award: Paula Pimenta, West Virginia Wesleyan
ITA Community Service Award: Edinboro University
MEN'S REGIONAL AWARDS
South Central Region
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Yair Banuelos, Western New Mexico
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Jake Rother, St. Mary’s University (TX)
ITA Most Improved Player (Senior): Adam Dockery, St. Mary’s University (TX)
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Ramon Toyos, Midwestern State University
ITA Rookie of the Year: Jeremiah Gonzalez, St. Mary’s University (TX)
ITA Player to Watch: Vinicius Santos, Cameron University
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award: Josh Graetz, Metro State University, Denver
ITA Community Service Award: Midwestern State University
West Region
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Tina McDermott, University of Hawai’i, Hilo
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Yann Renault, Hawai´i Pacific University
ITA Most Improved Player (Senior): Matthew Halligan, Holy Names University
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Torben Otto, Hawai’i Pacific University
ITA Rookie of the Year: Oliver Frank, Azusa Pacific University
ITA Player to Watch: Vaclav Stezak, University of Hawai’i, Hilo
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award: Daniel Tada, University of Hawai’i, Hilo
ITA Community Service Award: University of California, San Diego
Midwest Region
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Malik Tabet, University of Indianapolis
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Michael Tenzer, University of Indianapolis
ITA Most Improved Player (Senior): Arklon Huertas Del Pino, University of Indianapolis
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Arklon Huertas Del Pino, University of Indianapolis
ITA Rookie of the Year: Ben-Hur Kasprzak, University of Missouri, St. Louis
ITA Player to Watch: Nils Hoffacker, University of Indianapolis
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award: Nils Hoffacker, University of Indianapolis
ITA Community Service Award: Rockhurst University
South Region
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Derrick Racine, University of West Florida
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Barbara Oliveira, University of West Alabama
ITA Most Improved Player (Senior): Nico Dreer, Barry University
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Ahmed Triki, Barry University
ITA Rookie of the Year: Thomas Grinerg, Saint Leo University
ITA Player to Watch: Jaime Bueno, Saint Leo University
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award: Pietro Goncalves Da Silva, Palm Beach Atlantic
ITA Community Service Award: Palm Beach Atlantic University
Central Region
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Mark Rosewell, Northwest Missouri State University
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Fanni Varga, Southwest Baptist University
ITA Most Improved Player (Senior): Aymeric Autones, Northwest Missouri State University
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Romain Boissinot, Northwest Missouri State University
ITA Rookie of the Year: Ferenc Agoston, Southwest Baptist University
ITA Player to Watch: Sergi Fontcuberta, Northwest Missouri State University
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award: Christian Blodig, Southwest Baptist University
ITA Community Service Award: Emporia State University
Atlantic Region
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Kyle Hoffman, Fairmont State University
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Alex Bush, Edinboro University
ITA Most Improved Player (Senior): Matt Tully, West Liberty University
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Baptiste Perrin, West Liberty University
ITA Rookie of the Year: Cormac McCooey, Mercyhurst University
ITA Player to Watch: Nenad Terzic, Mercyhurst University
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award: Luke Flanagan, West Liberty University
ITA Community Service Award: Edinboro University
East Region
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Gregory Coache, Southern New Hampshire University
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Fabio Minami, Queens College
ITA Most Improved Player (Senior): Jonathan Ducretot, Chestnut Hill College
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Jake Sosonkin, University of the Sciences
ITA Rookie of the Year: Oskar Haedicke, Philadelphia University
ITA Player to Watch: Felix Andre, Chestnut Hill College
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award: Xavier Aubron, Southern New Hampshire University
ITA Community Service Award: Daemen College
Southeast Region
Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year: Evan Isaacs, Columbus State
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Tanner Stancil, Belmont Abbey
ITA Most Improved Player (Senior): Alex Reinauer, University of North Georgia
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Stefano Soares, Limestone College
ITA Rookie of the Year: Federico Garnier, Limestone College
ITA Player to Watch: Niklas Zielen, University of North Georgia
ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award: Moritz Poswiat, King University
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