Cavalier Corner

June 2015

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"We have five juniors, and we've already started a lot of the work for next year," said Nauta. "We're going to build off of it this summer and get pre- pared for next year because it's our last chance." During Nauta's time at UVa, women's tennis has made it to the round of 16 in the NCAA Tourna- ment all three seasons and to the quarterfinals a year ago. But that's what the 2012-13 class ex- pected when they arrived. "We definitely came in with high expectations, and we really wanted to set some high standards for the team," said Nauta. "As we have evolved over the last few years, and with the additions of Danielle, Skylar [Morton] and Cassie [Mercer] we can take the program to the next level." Nauta has been an integral part of Virginia's ten- nis success over the last three seasons. In her first- year campaign, she posted a 28-12 singles mark en route to All-ACC honors. Last year, she went 33-8 in singles matches, including a 23-3 record in dual play. She also recorded a 25-11 doubles record and again earned all-conference recognition after going 11-1 in ACC singles action. Nauta says the greatest moment of her tennis career occurred last season when the Hoos claimed their first-ever ACC title. Nauta clinched the cham- pionship with a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (3) win over Duke's Hanna Mar. "That moment I will carry for the rest of my life," said Nauta. "The first ACC title in program history, to be one of the last matches and clinch it — it was an overwhelming feeling. Having the team trust you in that situation on the court, believe in you and rush to you after the win, sharing that happiness was really special to me." The Hoos fell in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Women's Tennis Championship to defending NCAA champion Stanford 4-2 to end what still was a record-setting season. The fourth-ranked Cavaliers ended their 2014 campaign with a school-best 24-6 record. Nauta advanced to the NCAA Singles Cham- pionship but lost in the opening round to No. 3 overall seed Kristie Ahn of Stanford. This spring Virginia claimed its second consecu- tive ACC championship, becoming the first ACC school to capture back-to-back ACC titles since Georgia Tech won three consecutive crowns from 2005-07. Again in 2015, Nauta's play was critical to Vir- ginia's ACC title win. She and Mercer clinched the doubles point with an 8-5 decision, and Nauta, Collins and Morton earned the Cavaliers' three singles points for the 4-0 win. Nauta (31-15) made her second consecutive appearance at the NCAA Singles Championship. She lost in her opening-round match to No. 1-seed Robin Anderson of UCLA, 6-1, 6-3. In her second year as a team captain, Nauta received high marks for her leadership role on the team from head coach Mark Giulbeau. "Stephanie's leadership and caring has made a great impact on this season and has led this team to another extremely successful season and an im- pressive amount of growth on and off the courts," said Guilbeau. Nauta's determination and attitude earned her the prestigious Intercollegiate Tennis Association Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship for the Atlantic Region. "That's our plan — to reach that higher level, not just individually but collectively. When we come back next spring, we're ready to go full throttle and get that NCAA title." NAUTA

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