2006-07 (Junior): Chosen as 2006 Amateur Athlete of the Year by the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame…Earned All-SEC Second Team honors after finishing 10-1 in conference singles play at the No. 4 position…Finished the season with a 20-11 overall record…Struggled at the start of spring season, but finished strong winning 13 of her last 14 matches…Finished the 2007 season ranked No. 104 in singles…Teamed with Catherine Newman at No. 2 doubles and finished with a 20-6 overall record and 9-2 record in conference matches…Finished 11-4 in fall season, including going undefeated at the Furman Fall Classic and the June Stewart Invitational.
2005-06 (Sophomore) : Was named SEC Player
of the Year for her undefeated conference performance…
First Team All-SEC… was the only SEC player to earn
Player of the Week recognition twice in 2006… started the
2006 dual match season 10-0 in singles… went
undefeated in singles at the ITA Indoors tournament…
defeated Top 30 opponents No. 3 Diana Srebrovic of
Florida, No. 9 Zuzana Cerna of Baylor, No. 30 Anna
Sydorska of TCU… advanced to the second round of the
NCAA Singles Championship… peaked at No. 19 on the
ITA rankings.
2004-05 (Freshman): Was named
the SEC Freshman of the Year after posting
a 20-6 overall record and an 8-3 conference
mark … Teamed with Amanda Fish to go 20-
6 at the No. 2 doubles … Defeated all five
ranked Top-100 opponents she faced,
including No 12 Zerene Reyes of Florida …
Tabbed as the ITA Rookie Player of the Year
in the southeast region … Came back from
down 5-4 in the third set at No. 2 Kentucky in
the final regular-season match of the year to
clinch Vanderbilt[apos]s biggest win of the season
and assure the Commodores would be the
No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament.
Prep/Juniors: Led Langley H.S. to
two district and regional champions, went to
semifinals at state level … Was chosen as
MVP of her high school team … Received
honorary mention for the All-Metro team her
freshman year … Voted best athlete her
senior year … Received two letters playing
tennis … Honor roll student … played at the
junior tennis champions center in College
Park, MD … won 16s at Peachtree State …
won 16s at the National Open … Won three
18s at National Open, Quarters and winter
supernationals.
Personal:
Tarakaa Bertrand … born August 11, 1986 …daughter of Trent and
Chume Bertrand … born in Washington, D.C.
but raised in Great Falls,,VA … one sibilng;
Thiki Bertrand … Father Trent played football
at McGill University in Quebec,
Canada.