Women's tennis earns two ITA Southern Region awards to cap successful season.
Kirtane, Lee Earn ITA Southern Region Honors
May 16, 2017 | Women's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. – With another fantastic season concluded, the Mississippi State women's tennis team had two recipients for this year's ITA Southern Region awards. Sachin Kirtane was named the ITA Southern Region Assistant Coach of the Year, while Jasmine Lee earned the ITA Southern Region Senior Player of the Year honor. The Bulldog pair became the first recipients of those honors in program history.
"These are both well-deserved honors for Sachin and Jasmine," head coach Daryl Greenan said. "They have both played a major role in the rise and success of our program for the past three years."
Both Kirtane and Lee will be considered for the national versions of their respective awards as well. The national awards will be announced next Tuesday, May 23.
"I am proud and humbled to receive this honor," Kirtane said. "This award is a direct result of the hard work our team put in this season and all the credit goes to those girls. I want to also thank Daryl Greenan for giving me this opportunity to coach at MSU. We have great chemistry and it's been a blast to work alongside one of my dear friends."
Assisting Greenan, Kirtane guided the Maroon & White to a 15-9 record in 2017. The Bulldogs also achieved the program's highest national ranking ever after coming in a No. 16 on April 4.
"Sachin brings a dedication and passion for his job like no other," Greenan said. "He has proven to be one of the top Division I assistants in the country. His intensity in recruiting and on match day has helped our program reach new heights."
The combo of Greenan and Kirtane has led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament in all three seasons they have been together, guiding MSU to a 49-30 record overall during that span. Before the arrival of Kirtane, MSU's last postseason appearance was in 2005.
In the SEC, the duo has also been a force as well, earning back-to-back seven win seasons in the always-powerful league, which rank as the most in program history. This year, the SEC sent 12 of its 14 teams to the the NCAA Tournament.
Going down as one of the best players to ever don the Maroon & White, Lee added another accolade to her lengthy resume with this week's ITA Senior of the Year regional award. The Bulldog had picked up back-to-back ITA Southern Region Player to Watch selections in 2015 and 2016.
"Jasmine's record in singles and doubles speaks for itself," Greenan said "She has proven herself in the best league in the the nation and is unquestionably one of the best college players in the country."
The senior currently ranks No. 7 overall in singles action (a program high), while coming in at No. 2 in the country in doubles (second-best all-time at MSU) with partner Lisa Marie Rioux. She is seeded No. 7 in singles and No. 2 doubles (with Rioux) in the NCAA Singles & Doubles Championships, which begin May 24 in Athens, Ga. Both of those seedings are State program records.
On the court, the senior Bulldog went 23-6 in singles and 24-5 in doubles play. The Taiwan native's successful 2016-17 season earned her All-America status in both singles and doubles and led to a third straight All-SEC First Team selection, all MSU firsts. In 2016, she became the first Bulldog in program history to earn All-America honors in singles play after reaching the NCAA quarterfinals as a 9-16 seed.
For her career, Lee stands first all-time at MSU in overall winning percentage (72.8%) and fourth in overall wins (123) in just five semesters of competition. She is 72-26 (73.5%) overall in singles, with the 72 wins tying for second all-time at MSU and the winning percentage being State's best ever. Lee is also 51-20 (71.8%) as a Bulldog in doubles, the 51 wins standing ninth all-time at State while the winning percentage is third.
Up Next
MSU Women's Tennis will have two Bulldogs competing at this month's NCAA Individual Championships in Athens, Ga. Lee will compete in the 64-player singles draw, while also playing in the 32-team doubles bracket alongside Rioux. Lee was an NCAA Singles quarterfinalist in 2016 and has qualified for NCAA Singles three consecutive years. This year marks her first NCAA bid in doubles.
Additional Notes
Social Media
For more information on the Mississippi State women's tennis program, follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
"These are both well-deserved honors for Sachin and Jasmine," head coach Daryl Greenan said. "They have both played a major role in the rise and success of our program for the past three years."
Both Kirtane and Lee will be considered for the national versions of their respective awards as well. The national awards will be announced next Tuesday, May 23.
"I am proud and humbled to receive this honor," Kirtane said. "This award is a direct result of the hard work our team put in this season and all the credit goes to those girls. I want to also thank Daryl Greenan for giving me this opportunity to coach at MSU. We have great chemistry and it's been a blast to work alongside one of my dear friends."
Assisting Greenan, Kirtane guided the Maroon & White to a 15-9 record in 2017. The Bulldogs also achieved the program's highest national ranking ever after coming in a No. 16 on April 4.
"Sachin brings a dedication and passion for his job like no other," Greenan said. "He has proven to be one of the top Division I assistants in the country. His intensity in recruiting and on match day has helped our program reach new heights."
The combo of Greenan and Kirtane has led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament in all three seasons they have been together, guiding MSU to a 49-30 record overall during that span. Before the arrival of Kirtane, MSU's last postseason appearance was in 2005.
In the SEC, the duo has also been a force as well, earning back-to-back seven win seasons in the always-powerful league, which rank as the most in program history. This year, the SEC sent 12 of its 14 teams to the the NCAA Tournament.
Going down as one of the best players to ever don the Maroon & White, Lee added another accolade to her lengthy resume with this week's ITA Senior of the Year regional award. The Bulldog had picked up back-to-back ITA Southern Region Player to Watch selections in 2015 and 2016.
"Jasmine's record in singles and doubles speaks for itself," Greenan said "She has proven herself in the best league in the the nation and is unquestionably one of the best college players in the country."
The senior currently ranks No. 7 overall in singles action (a program high), while coming in at No. 2 in the country in doubles (second-best all-time at MSU) with partner Lisa Marie Rioux. She is seeded No. 7 in singles and No. 2 doubles (with Rioux) in the NCAA Singles & Doubles Championships, which begin May 24 in Athens, Ga. Both of those seedings are State program records.
On the court, the senior Bulldog went 23-6 in singles and 24-5 in doubles play. The Taiwan native's successful 2016-17 season earned her All-America status in both singles and doubles and led to a third straight All-SEC First Team selection, all MSU firsts. In 2016, she became the first Bulldog in program history to earn All-America honors in singles play after reaching the NCAA quarterfinals as a 9-16 seed.
For her career, Lee stands first all-time at MSU in overall winning percentage (72.8%) and fourth in overall wins (123) in just five semesters of competition. She is 72-26 (73.5%) overall in singles, with the 72 wins tying for second all-time at MSU and the winning percentage being State's best ever. Lee is also 51-20 (71.8%) as a Bulldog in doubles, the 51 wins standing ninth all-time at State while the winning percentage is third.
Up Next
MSU Women's Tennis will have two Bulldogs competing at this month's NCAA Individual Championships in Athens, Ga. Lee will compete in the 64-player singles draw, while also playing in the 32-team doubles bracket alongside Rioux. Lee was an NCAA Singles quarterfinalist in 2016 and has qualified for NCAA Singles three consecutive years. This year marks her first NCAA bid in doubles.
Additional Notes
- The staff of Greenan and Kirtane is tied for the program's most NCAA appearances (3)
- MSU has won 49 matches over Kirtane's three seasons with the Bulldogs, which is the most in program history over any three-year span
- Players who have played during Kirtane's tenure at MSU have earned four All-America honors, which is the most for any coach at MSU
- Lee ranks second in MSU history for career singles wins (72)
- Lee's 73.5% (72-26) winning percentage in singles action is the highest in program history
- The senior's 81.0% (47-11) winning percentage in singles and doubles in 2016-17 currently ranks first in program history
- Lee is the only Bulldog women's tennis player ever to earn multiple All-America honors and also do so in both singles and doubles
- For her career, Lee has defeated a total of 43 ranked foes in singles play and 14 ranked tandems in doubles action
- Against Southern Region foes, Lee has earned a 21-5 career record in singles and a 20-5 career record in doubles play
Social Media
For more information on the Mississippi State women's tennis program, follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Players Mentioned
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