NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Four members of the Vanderbilt women’s tennis team – senior Célia-Belle Mohr, senior Amy Stevens, sophomore Valeria Ray and freshman Sophia Webster – were named as ITA Ohio Valley Regional Award recipients on Tuesday.
“I’m very proud to see multiple Dores represented in our regional awards this season,” head coach Aleke Tsoubanos said. “It is very much a testament to all of the hard work Célia, Amy, Valeria and Sophia have put in this year, so we are grateful they’ve been recognized in the Ohio Valley Region.”
Stevens, who concluded her Vandy career with a 102 total wins and a 16-10 clip in singles this season, received the Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award. The honor is given to player who shows outstanding leadership and sportsmanship in addition to academic, extracurricular and tennis achievements.
“The Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award is the most prestigious award in college tennis, and Amy personifies everything Ashe stood for,” Tsoubanos said. “She’s been a model student-athlete, leading and competing with integrity and grace, and I know she is honored to be its recipient this season.”
Mohr, last season’s ITA Ohio Valley Player to Watch, was selected as the ITA Senior Player of the Year for the region. She finished the season ranked No. 6 in singles and No. 10 in doubles, producing 18 total ranked wins. The final rankings delivered Mohr ITA All-American status for the fifth time in her career, becoming the first player in program history to achieve that feat.
“Célia’s contributions at the top spots in singles and doubles this season were key to our team’s success and her own individual finishes in the national ranks,” Tsoubanos said. “She was without a doubt one of the best seniors in the country this season.”
Ray, the SEC’s leader in regular season singles victories, was named as the ITA Ohio Valley Player to Watch. She generated a 17-match win streak from Jan. 10 to March 16 while playing primarily at the No. 2 position for the Commodores. The rising junior owns 96 total career victories across singles and doubles play.
“Valeria continues to improve and grow her tennis game,” Tsoubanos said. “She compiled the most singles wins on the team this season and received All-SEC honors for her performance this spring. She is the ultimate competitor and I know she will be motivated to push the bar even higher in her junior year.”
Webster rounded out Vanderbilt’s regional award recognition, earning the ITA Ohio Valley Rookie of the Year. She became the first freshman in program history to earn ITA All-American status. Webster racked up eight ranked wins across singles and doubles play, primarily playing at No. 5 singles and No. 1 doubles along with Mohr. Her season was highlighted by a match-clinching 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3 defeat of No. 62 Daria Smetannikov, finalizing Vanderbilt’s 5-2 victory over No. 2 Texas A&M.
“Sophia had a fantastic freshman outing with 10 SEC singles wins and a doubles season that culminated in All-American honors and a top-10 finish nationally,” Tsoubanos said. “She’s the first freshman to earn that honor in our program’s history and I’m super proud of her.”
Vanderbilt’s four regional awards marks its most since netting five in 2018, two of which were coaching honors. Each award recipient is now eligible for the ITA’s national awards, which are set to be released on Thursday. The full list of ITA regional awards is available online. For more information, updates and exclusive offseason content, follow the Vanderbilt women’s tennis team, @VandyWTennis, on Instagram and X.
