ITA National Awards Release

REDLANDS, Calif. – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced their Division III National Award Winners with University of Redlands First-Year Maegan Deng (Redondo Beach, CA) being selected as the ITA National Rookie of the Year. 

This season, Deng posted a 13-6 singles record (11-5 in duals) and a 16-8 doubles record (11-6 in duals). Deng's singles victories included opponents ranked at No. 14, 15, 24 and 31 and in doubles No. 6, 10 and 12. Her only losses were from players ranked inside the Top-7 of the ITA National Rankings.

In the latest ITA Division III National Rankings, Deng comes in at No. 11 in singles and No. 13 in doubles.  This season she was named 1^st Team All-SCIAC, the SCIAC Newcomer of the Year, the ITA Division III West Region Rookie of the Year and won SCIAC Athlete of the Week honors three times.
 
"Playing No. 1 singles and doubles is a gauntlet, especially in the SCIAC and especially with the non-conference schedule we played this season," explained Head Coach Jake De Vries.  "Maegan held down both spots all season for us with poise that you would not believe from a first year, battling day after day with the best players in the country.  Beyond what you see on the stat sheet, Maegan is a tough competitor who never gives up in the heat of a battle, yet always shows grace and kindness to her opponents in the moment following a match. Maegan is the most selfless person you will ever meet, and she always puts her teammates and the team first. The lineup spot meant nothing to her; she just wanted an opportunity to help the team and help her teammates be successful. Maegan did that and then some this season, and we are so amazed by all she brings every day to improve our program and brighten the day of everyone around her."

This weekend, Sunday, May 26 Deng begins her run at the NCAA Division III National Championship Individual Tournament taking place in St. Louis, MO, hosted by WashU.