Texas Border Business
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced its 2022 Division I Women’s Regional Awards on Monday and named The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s women’s tennis team as the Texas Regional ITA Community Service Award winner.
The Vaqueros women’s tennis team accumulated 332 hours of community service – earning a No. 2 national ranking among Division I women’s tennis programs according to the Helper Helper app’s 2021-22 NCAA Community Engagement Report.
The team held four free junior tennis clinics throughout the school year, including one in Brownsville which drew 100 participants. The Vaqueros influenced hundreds of children ranging from 4 to 18 years old by sharing their love of tennis. They also volunteered with the RGV Food Bank, the Children’s Hospital, the Boys and Girls Club of Edinburg and the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands, among other community events.
“The consistent attitude and effort of this team to give back and connect with the local community is admirable. I could not be more proud of them,” women’s tennis head coach West Nott said. “They understand how fortunate we are to be playing collegiate athletics and they want to pay it forward in a small way. Hopefully we can continue to make an impact on the local community and keep extending a helping hand in the coming years.”
The ITA will announce its national award winners on June 13. Other regional ITA Community Service Award honorees for women’s tennis were Duquesne (Atlantic), Furman (Carolina), Wichita State (Central), Michigan State (Midwest), Air Force Academy (Mountain), Fairleigh Dickinson (Northeast), Austin Peay State and Middle Tennessee State (Ohio Valley), Georgia (Southeast), Alabama-Birmingham (Southern) and Arizona (Southwest).
Texas Regional Award Winners
Wilson ITA Coach of the Year: Mark Weaver, Texas A&M
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Jordan Szabo, Texas A&M
Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award: Alicia Herrero, Baylor
ITA Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award: Alicia Herrero, Baylor
ITA Rookie of the Year: Carson Branstine, Texas A&M
ITA Most Improved Senior: Tatiana Makarova, Texas A&M
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Tatiana Makarova, Texas A&M
ITA Community Service Award: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
