TEMPE, Ariz. – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced the 2018-19 Division II regional award winners on Wednesday, May 16th. Players and coaches from the Sunshine State Conference claimed all but one award in the South Region.
Select coaches in the division comprised the regional and national awards committees. The national award winners will be announced on May 21. SSC winners of regional awards are listed below:
SSC Men's ITA National Award Winners:
ITA Coach of the Year:
George Samuel from Barry University earns South Region Coach of the Year after leading the Buccaneers to a 22-1 record this season. Barry has been ranked in the Top-3 nationally all year and are still playing in the NCAA Tournament after winning the South Region.
ITA Player to Watch:
Lucca Baptista of Lynn University is named men's South Region ITA Player to Watch, Baptista finished his regular season with a record of 15-4 at the No. 2 singles position.
ITA Senior Player of the Year:
The 2019 ITA Senior Player of the Year, Nicolo De Fraia of Rollins College is the No. 13-ranked player in the country. De Fraia played exclusively in the first singles position for Rollins this season, tallying a 20-1 overall record against some of the nation's toughest competition. He went 7-1 in Sunshine State Conference action, 4-1 against nationally ranked players, and 7-1 against regionally ranked opposition.
SSC Women's ITA National Award Winners:
ITA Player to Watch
Marta Vicens Miquel of Saint Leo University is named women's Player to Watch. She is ranked No. 47 nationally and was 17-7 on the season from the No. 1 singles position.
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year:
Daniel Albers from Nova Southeastern University is named Assistant of the Year in the South Region. A second-year graduate assistant, Albers was named the ITA South Region Assistant Coach of the Year for his significant contributions in helping third-year coach Doug Neagle lead the Sharks to a program record-tying 22-5 overall record, the first-ever Regional Final and just the second-ever finish as Sunshine State Conference runner-up.
ITA Rookie of Year
Natalie Espinal of Nova Southeastern was selected as the ITA South Region Rookie of the Year. Espinal was also named SSC Freshman of the Year and All-SSC first team, racking up a 20-5 singles record.
SSC Men's ITA South Region Award Winners
Wilson ITA Coach of the Year: George Samuel; Barry University
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Jean-Baptiste Mateo; Lynn University
Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship: Carlos Meneses; Palm Beach Atlantic University
ITA Rokie of the Year: Bruna Faletto; Saint Leo University
ITA Player to Watch: Lucca Baptista; Lynn University
ITA Most Improved Senior: Daniel Ventura; Barry University
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Nicolo De Fraia; Rollins College
ITA Community Service Award: Palm Beach Atlantic University
SSC Women's ITA South Region Award Winners
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Daniel Albers; Nova Southeastern University
Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship: Alahna Reto; Florida Tech
ITA Rookie of the Year: Natalie Espinal; Nova Southeastern University
ITA Player to Watch: Marta Vicens Miquel; Saint Leo University
ITA Most Improved Senior: Carolin Schmidt; Barry University
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Leolia Jeanjean; Lynn University
ITA Community Service Award: Saint Leo University
To view the entire list of 2019 ITA Division II awards, click here.