PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University tennis student-athletes Michaela Bayerlova, Aneta Miksovska and Hikaru Sato have been recognized by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association for efforts this past seasons, the organization announced Friday.
Bayerlova has been named the Northwest Region recipient of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Player to Watch Award for the second-straight season, while Miksovska was named the Northwest Region winner of the ITA Cissie Leary, given to the player who displays inspiring dedication and commitment to her team, which has enhanced her team's performance and exemplified the spirit of college tennis. Sato was named the Northwest Region recipient of the ITA Rookie of the Year.
"It is exciting to see others are recognizing some of the tremendous players we have in our program, and for Michaela, Aneta and Hikaru to be honored like this is a great accomplishment," said WSU Head Coach Lisa Hart.
"Aneta has been the consummate leader for this program and her impact will be felt for years to come," Hart continued. "Michaela produced another great season and her ability to beat anyone in the country makes her a great recipient of the Player to Watch award. Hikaru being named the region's Rookie of the Year is a testament to her work ethic and improvement over the course of the year.
A native of Krumbach, Germany, Bayerlova was named to the 2019 All-Pac-12 First Team for the second-consecutive season and selected to the 2019 NCAA Singles Championship for the second-straight season. She has a current No. 42 national ranking after posting a 22-7 singles record, which included seven victories over nationally-ranked players. Last month she garnered her third career Pac-12 Player of the Week honors after defeating UCLA and UCS in back-to-back matches, the former resulting in WSU's largest upset in program history after defeating No. 10 UCLA, 4-2.
Miksovska, from Stramberk, Czech Republic, ended her career with 98 singles victories, fourth-most in program history. This season she posted a 24-7 singles record, which include the clinching victory in three sets to secure WSU's win over No. 10 UCLA. She ended her career with a three-set win over No. 19 Miami in the first round of the NCAA Championship earlier this month. Last week she was also named to the 2019 Pac-12 All-Academic First Team, her third-straight year being a first-team selection.
Sato, from Tokyo, Japan, has posted a 19-16 singles record and 26-8 doubles mark this season. Later this month she competes with Mylonas at the 2019 NCAA Doubles Championship. In her freshman campaign she had three match-clinching wins, vs. Arizona, Iowa State and Seattle, and a season-best six-match win streak early in the spring, all while playing mainly at No. 2 in the lineup. She is the first Cougar to receive this regional award.
The ITA will announce national award winners Sunday, May 19, 2019.
The Cougars posted a 19-11 record this season and reached the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2012.
Bayerlova has been named the Northwest Region recipient of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Player to Watch Award for the second-straight season, while Miksovska was named the Northwest Region winner of the ITA Cissie Leary, given to the player who displays inspiring dedication and commitment to her team, which has enhanced her team's performance and exemplified the spirit of college tennis. Sato was named the Northwest Region recipient of the ITA Rookie of the Year.
"It is exciting to see others are recognizing some of the tremendous players we have in our program, and for Michaela, Aneta and Hikaru to be honored like this is a great accomplishment," said WSU Head Coach Lisa Hart.
"Aneta has been the consummate leader for this program and her impact will be felt for years to come," Hart continued. "Michaela produced another great season and her ability to beat anyone in the country makes her a great recipient of the Player to Watch award. Hikaru being named the region's Rookie of the Year is a testament to her work ethic and improvement over the course of the year.
A native of Krumbach, Germany, Bayerlova was named to the 2019 All-Pac-12 First Team for the second-consecutive season and selected to the 2019 NCAA Singles Championship for the second-straight season. She has a current No. 42 national ranking after posting a 22-7 singles record, which included seven victories over nationally-ranked players. Last month she garnered her third career Pac-12 Player of the Week honors after defeating UCLA and UCS in back-to-back matches, the former resulting in WSU's largest upset in program history after defeating No. 10 UCLA, 4-2.
Miksovska, from Stramberk, Czech Republic, ended her career with 98 singles victories, fourth-most in program history. This season she posted a 24-7 singles record, which include the clinching victory in three sets to secure WSU's win over No. 10 UCLA. She ended her career with a three-set win over No. 19 Miami in the first round of the NCAA Championship earlier this month. Last week she was also named to the 2019 Pac-12 All-Academic First Team, her third-straight year being a first-team selection.
Sato, from Tokyo, Japan, has posted a 19-16 singles record and 26-8 doubles mark this season. Later this month she competes with Mylonas at the 2019 NCAA Doubles Championship. In her freshman campaign she had three match-clinching wins, vs. Arizona, Iowa State and Seattle, and a season-best six-match win streak early in the spring, all while playing mainly at No. 2 in the lineup. She is the first Cougar to receive this regional award.
The ITA will announce national award winners Sunday, May 19, 2019.
The Cougars posted a 19-11 record this season and reached the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2012.