Photo by: Rich Graessle
Tennis Claims Three ITA Regional Awards
Jun 14 | Women's Tennis
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers tennis claimed three Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Regional Awards for the 2021 season, the association announced Monday. Senior Maya Jacobs was named the Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award winner, redshirt-senior Jaci Cochrane was tabbed the Most Improved Senior Award recipient and assistant coach Catarina Lindqvist-Ryan was honored as the ITA Assistant Coach of the Year for the Northeast Regional.
MAYA JACOBS | CISSIE LEARY SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD – NORTHEAST REGIONAL
Maya Jacobs was named the Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award Northeast Regional Winner. The ITA Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award honors a Division I women's student-athlete who displays inspiring dedication and commitment to her team, which has enhanced her team's performance and exemplified the spirit of college tennis. The award dates back to 1997 and is in memory of the late and widely admired Penn women's tennis coach Cissie Leary.
Jacobs, the 2021 NJAIAW Woman of the Year for Rutgers, added this year's Big Ten Sportsmanship award and her third Academic All-Big Ten recognition to her resume as well this spring. A member of the Rutgers Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Jacobs is an advocate for her teammates and fellow Scarlet Knights, including working to address issues of racial and social justice. She earned the team's Scarlet and Black Award this year, bestowed to the person who continues to lift the team up with their positive RU spirit.
The Linden, New Jersey, native led Rutgers in the No. 1 singles and doubles spot. Battling through an injury at the start of the season, Jacobs remained a strong motivator for the team vocally and by example at the top spot in the lineup against the nation's best.Through a hard slate of competition, Jacobs held strong in every match, clinching the first Big Ten win of the season over Michigan State with a victory in singles. She added three singles wins and two doubles victories on the year, including a doubles win against No. 15 Michigan.
"Maya has been a critical part of our team's growth and success. With each year, she has improved as a leader and role model. This year, she truly exemplified what a team captain should and can be - dedicated, passionate, selfless, hard working and encouraging," said Head Coach Hilary Ritchie.
JACI COCHRANE | MOST IMPROVED SENIOR – NORTHEAST REGIONAL
Jaci Cochrane was named the Most Improved Senior for the Northeast Regional. The Fort Dodge, Iowa, native recorded a singles win in all four historic Big Ten victories this year, the most conference wins for Rutgers in a single season since joining the league. She also contributed to the doubles point in three of those wins.
Overall, Cochrane, who was voted this year's team MVP, tied for the team lead with five singles victories and was second on the squad with six doubles wins on the year. With teammate Daira Cardenas, Cochrane helped secure the team doubles point in a total of five matches, including the team doubles point against No. 15 Michigan.
The 2020 Chi Alpha Sigma Inductee earned her fourth Academic All-Big Ten accolade this spring. Cochrane has also claimed the 2017 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for the program and a Big Ten Athlete of the Week recognition in 2018.
"Jaci did a tremendous job embracing her additional year of eligibility. She was determined to make her final season her best, and I am proud of the way she worked and competed all year," said Ritchie.
CATARINA LINDQVIST-RYAN | ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR – NORTHEAST REGIONAL
Catarina Lindqvist-Ryan is in her fifth season with the Scarlet Knights, assisting the program to new heights year after year in the Big Ten. She is instrumental in developing strategies for the student-athletes in both singles and doubles, as well as working one on one with them to fine tune their footwork and technique. All areas that Lindqvist-Ryan aids in coaching helped push Rutgers to the most conference wins in program history this season.
RU recorded wins over Michigan State, Indiana and two over Maryland this spring. In a slate that featured multiple ranked opponents, the Scarlet Knights recorded 30 doubles victories and 16 singles victories across dual and tournament action. In the classroom, all six student-athletes who were eligible this semester earned Academic All-Big Ten accolades, boosting a team term GPA of 3.788.
Lindqvist-Ryan has brought a wealth of knowledge to Rutgers from her years on the Pro Tour, which included 36 Grand Slam tournaments, and from coaching a range of players.
"Catarina is a critical reason why our tennis program has continued to improve. Her passion and dedication to the team, and tennis overall is remarkable. I am fortunate to have such a talented Coach and friend working with our student-athletes," said Ritchie.
Follow Rutgers women's tennis on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Download the Scarlet Knights App for Apple or Android today.
MAYA JACOBS | CISSIE LEARY SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD – NORTHEAST REGIONAL
Maya Jacobs was named the Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award Northeast Regional Winner. The ITA Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award honors a Division I women's student-athlete who displays inspiring dedication and commitment to her team, which has enhanced her team's performance and exemplified the spirit of college tennis. The award dates back to 1997 and is in memory of the late and widely admired Penn women's tennis coach Cissie Leary.
Jacobs, the 2021 NJAIAW Woman of the Year for Rutgers, added this year's Big Ten Sportsmanship award and her third Academic All-Big Ten recognition to her resume as well this spring. A member of the Rutgers Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Jacobs is an advocate for her teammates and fellow Scarlet Knights, including working to address issues of racial and social justice. She earned the team's Scarlet and Black Award this year, bestowed to the person who continues to lift the team up with their positive RU spirit.
The Linden, New Jersey, native led Rutgers in the No. 1 singles and doubles spot. Battling through an injury at the start of the season, Jacobs remained a strong motivator for the team vocally and by example at the top spot in the lineup against the nation's best.Through a hard slate of competition, Jacobs held strong in every match, clinching the first Big Ten win of the season over Michigan State with a victory in singles. She added three singles wins and two doubles victories on the year, including a doubles win against No. 15 Michigan.
"Maya has been a critical part of our team's growth and success. With each year, she has improved as a leader and role model. This year, she truly exemplified what a team captain should and can be - dedicated, passionate, selfless, hard working and encouraging," said Head Coach Hilary Ritchie.
JACI COCHRANE | MOST IMPROVED SENIOR – NORTHEAST REGIONAL
Jaci Cochrane was named the Most Improved Senior for the Northeast Regional. The Fort Dodge, Iowa, native recorded a singles win in all four historic Big Ten victories this year, the most conference wins for Rutgers in a single season since joining the league. She also contributed to the doubles point in three of those wins.
Overall, Cochrane, who was voted this year's team MVP, tied for the team lead with five singles victories and was second on the squad with six doubles wins on the year. With teammate Daira Cardenas, Cochrane helped secure the team doubles point in a total of five matches, including the team doubles point against No. 15 Michigan.
The 2020 Chi Alpha Sigma Inductee earned her fourth Academic All-Big Ten accolade this spring. Cochrane has also claimed the 2017 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for the program and a Big Ten Athlete of the Week recognition in 2018.
"Jaci did a tremendous job embracing her additional year of eligibility. She was determined to make her final season her best, and I am proud of the way she worked and competed all year," said Ritchie.
CATARINA LINDQVIST-RYAN | ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR – NORTHEAST REGIONAL
Catarina Lindqvist-Ryan is in her fifth season with the Scarlet Knights, assisting the program to new heights year after year in the Big Ten. She is instrumental in developing strategies for the student-athletes in both singles and doubles, as well as working one on one with them to fine tune their footwork and technique. All areas that Lindqvist-Ryan aids in coaching helped push Rutgers to the most conference wins in program history this season.
RU recorded wins over Michigan State, Indiana and two over Maryland this spring. In a slate that featured multiple ranked opponents, the Scarlet Knights recorded 30 doubles victories and 16 singles victories across dual and tournament action. In the classroom, all six student-athletes who were eligible this semester earned Academic All-Big Ten accolades, boosting a team term GPA of 3.788.
Lindqvist-Ryan has brought a wealth of knowledge to Rutgers from her years on the Pro Tour, which included 36 Grand Slam tournaments, and from coaching a range of players.
"Catarina is a critical reason why our tennis program has continued to improve. Her passion and dedication to the team, and tennis overall is remarkable. I am fortunate to have such a talented Coach and friend working with our student-athletes," said Ritchie.
Follow Rutgers women's tennis on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Download the Scarlet Knights App for Apple or Android today.
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