Gonzaga's Whittle Lands Major ITA National Awards

[TerpZag]

Whittle Lands Major ITA National Awards

GU Senior earns Arthur Ashe Award and Most Improved Senior Award


TEMPE, Ariz. – Just one day after being named the regional recipient of the ITA's Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award and the Most Improved Senior Award, Gonzaga's Sophie Whittle took home both national awards at the NCAA Tournament Players' Celebration on Sunday in Orlando, Fla.

The ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award recognizes outstanding individuals in all divisions at the regional and national level. This award which dates back to 1982, goes to NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and JUCO men's and women's players who have exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements.

"What an incredible honor for Sophie, our team and Gonzaga Athletics," head coach D.J. Gurule said. "It is fantastic that the ITA has recognized her commitment to the game and her community, she has definitely earned this recognition. She epitomizes the true nature of college athletics. She has so many demands on her time and energy, and she handles it all with dignity, grace and gratitude. I am so proud of her and know she will continue to give back in so many ways."

Whittle, a senior from Nipomo, Calif., has been one of the best players in the nation ranking No. 8 in singles and No. 15 in doubles. After a fall season that featured an ITA National Championship in singles, Whittle was ranked No. 1 in the nation and has gone on to remain in the top 15 throughout the spring. She has a school-record 29-8 mark in singles and went 9-3 against ranked opponents in singles during the season. She earned WCC Player of the Year, All-WCC First Team, WCC All-Academic Team and WCC All-Tournament Team honors.

Whittle, who recently graduated from Gonzaga with a degree in Physical Education and Kinesiology, has also been involved in numerous community service initiatives including visits to local elementary schools and retirement homes and participation with other local non-profits on projects and donation drives.

Whittle is set to be the first-ever Gonzaga player to compete in the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships, which take place starting Monday at the USTA National Campus Collegiate Center in Orlando, Fla. She's joined by Rosas in the doubles portion of the individual championships, which begin Tuesday.

Gonzaga Article Link

[sittingon50]

Very impressive Sophie! Congratulations.

(thanks Terp)

[webspinnre]

Wow! Congratulations!

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Women’s Tennis Whittle Falls in NCAA Singles

Doubles championships begin Tuesday for Whittle/Rosas


ORLANDO – Gonzaga women's tennis player Sophie Whittle saw her singles career come to an end on Monday at the NCAA Singles Championships at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla.

Whittle, seeded eighth in the tournament, took on Texas' Anna Turati in the opening round of the 64-player field, and fell in straight sets 6-2, 7-6(8). In the second set tiebreak, Whittle held on, defeating three match points, but Turati was able to get two in a row to win it 10-8.

"I know it was a tough way for Sophie to end her singles career, but she has so much to be proud of," head coach D.J. Gurule said. "She is truly one of the best people have ever known. She will be so successful going forward and this setback will only fuel her development."

Whittle isn't done for the season, as she will team up with doubles partner Graciela Rosas on Tuesday in the 32-player field for the NCAA Doubles Championship. The match time is yet to be determined.

"We still have some work to do tomorrow," Gurule said. "We are definitely looking forward to a tough doubles match."

Whittle finishes her singles career with a school record 79 career wins, including an ITA National Championship this past fall, a WCC Player of the Year award this spring, and another single-season record of 29 wins in 2018-19.

Gonzaga Article Link

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Whittle and Rosas Moving on at NCAA Doubles

GU won a third set tiebreak 12-10 to advance to Round of 16


ORLANDO – The Gonzaga doubles tandem of Sophie Whittle and Graciela Rosas showed major resolve in a first-round comeback victory at the NCAA Doubles Championships on Tuesday in Orlando, Fla.

The GU pair dropped the first set, but battled back all match long to force a third set tiebreak and ultimately claim the win over Kentucky's Justina Mikulskyte and Akvile Parazinskaite. Gonzaga moves on to face the tournament's No. 1-seeded USC tandem of Angela Kulikov and Rianna Valdes in the Round of 16 on Wednesday at 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET.

"I was so impressed with their focus tonight," head coach D.J. Gurule said. "It is such a difficult situation to wait so long to play, but they stayed the course and never let up. We have a quick turnaround, but they will definitely be ready to play tomorrow."

In the first set, GU held tough, but after getting down a break, they weren't able to hold on as Kentucky took the set 6-4.

The second set saw a fast start by the Zag pair, as Whittle and Rosas got out to a 3-1 lead. After Kentucky came back to tie it 4-4, Gonzaga won the game on Whittle's serve and then took a break-point to win the set.

In the third-set super tiebreaker, it was point-for-point until GU was down 9-10. The Zag duo turned away that match point and then won the next two points to take it 12-10 and claim the match.

Whittle and Rosas improved their season mark to 21-3 overall and 5-3 over ranked opponents.

Gonzaga Article Link

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Women’s Tennis Doubles Fall at NCAA Championships

Whittle and Rosas end the season with a 22-4 overall record


ORLANDO – The Gonzaga women's tennis doubles tandem of Sophie Whittle and Graciela Rosas had their season come to an end in the Round of 16 on Wednesday at the NCAA Doubles Championships in Orlando, Fla.

"It was a tough one, USC is a very talented team, and we were just a little off today," head coach D.J. Gurule said. "I cannot express what amazing people Sophie and Grace are, they are true champions. I have been so fortunate to coach them the past four years. They have left a legacy at Gonzaga that will almost be impossible to top. I am so excited to watch them succeed going forward."

Whittle and Rosas, coming off a three-set win last night, took on the top-seeded team in the tournament of USC's Angela Kulikov and Rianna Valdes.

The USC pair jumped out to a lead in the first set in the way to a 6-1 win. In the second, GU held it close, closing to within one at 5-4, but USC earned the final game to win the set 6-4 and the match.

GU's Whittle and Rosas end the season with a 22-4 mark in doubles play.

Gonzaga Article Link

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WTEN’s Whittle Named ITA All-American

Senior becomes GU’s first-ever All-American


TEMPE, Ariz. – Gonzaga's decorated women's tennis player Sophie Whittle capped her year off being named an Intercollegiate Tennis All-American, the school's first-ever in the sport.

Whittle, a senior from Nipomo, Calif., has been one of the best players in the nation ranking No. 9 in singles and No. 17 in doubles with playing partner Graciela Rosas. After a fall season that featured an ITA National Championship in singles, Whittle was ranked No. 1 in the nation and has gone on to remain in the top 15 throughout the spring. She has a school-record 29-8 mark in singles and went 9-3 against ranked opponents in singles during the season. She earned WCC Player of the Year, All-WCC First Team, WCC All-Academic Team and WCC All-Tournament Team honors.

Whittle and Rosas also became the first two Zags to compete in the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships earlier this month.

Adding to her list of accolades, Whittle was also chosen as the nation's Most Improved Senior and the recipient of the prestigious Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship award.

A total of 96 individuals earned 2019 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) NCAA Division I All-American honors following the announcement of the men's and women's singles and doubles teams on Thursday.

The criteria for ITA All-America honors include earning a top 16 seed into the NCAA Singles Championship, advancing to the round of 16 at the NCAA Championship or finishing in the top 20 of the final Oracle/ITA Singles Rankings. All-America recognition is awarded to doubles teams that earn a top eight seed into the NCAA Championship, reach the NCAA Championship quarterfinals or finish in the top 10 in the final Oracle/ITA National Doubles Rankings.

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