May 15, 2017
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced the men’s and women’s Division I regional award winners on Monday, with five representatives of the Vanderbilt women’s tennis team earning Ohio Valley regional honors.
This is the third year in a row that the third-ranked Dores have brought in three or more regional awards after taking three last season and five in 2015. All of the regional winners are automatically nominated for the ITA Division I National Awards, which will be announced on May 23.
Known as one of the most respected coaching duos in the country, head coach Geoff Macdonald and associate head coach Aleke Tsoubanos earned Ohio Valley Coach of the Year and Assistant Coach of the Year.
The duo led Vanderbilt to its first Southeastern Conference regular season title, second SEC Tournament Championship in three years and a program-best 13 straight victories. Known for being a doubles mastermind, Tsoubanos has helped guide Astra Sharma and Emily Smith to the No. 1 spot in the country, while Macdonald’s overall knowledge of the game has transformed Vanderbilt into a mainstay in the NCAA tournament.
Geoff and Aleke, @ITA_Tennis Ohio Valley Regional Coach and Asst. Coach of the Year! #FIGHTDORES pic.twitter.com/I6o2kpypDK
 Vandy Women’s Tennis (@Vandywtennis) May 16, 2017
Sydney Campbell, Emma Kurtz and Astra Sharma all earned individual honors.
Recent Vanderbilt grad and Franklin, Tenn. native, Campbell is this season’s Ohio Valley Senior Player of the Year. One of the most decorated players in program history, the three-time All-American and 2017 SEC Tournament MVP looks to continue SEC play in the ITA top 25 with a career record of 102-49.
Kurtz makes her ITA honors debut, earning the honor of Ohio Valley Rookie of the Year. The athletic Atlanta native boasts just five losses on the year, which sits second on the team amongst singles starters. In tandems, the senior/freshman duo of Campbell/Kurtz own eight victories on the year, all at No. 2 doubles.
Sharma, the reigning SEC Player of the Year, earned the region’s Player to Watch honor for the second year in a row. The honor is given to a student-athlete who is thought to be a contender to win one of the many ITA or NCAA tournaments.
Sharma is on the cusp of earning an ITA individual title after landing semifinal appearances in both of the ITA’s national tournaments, the Riviera ITA All-Americans and the ITA National Indoor Championships.
.@ITA_Tennis Ohio Valley Regional Winners! #FIGHTDORES pic.twitter.com/sjoD7rsgM5
 Vandy Women’s Tennis (@Vandywtennis) May 16, 2017
The Commodores will continue NCAA Tournament play this Friday, taking on No. 13 California in Athens, Ga. at 3 p.m. CT in the Sweet 16.