May 17, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M freshman Nazari Urbina (pronounced nah-ZAR-ee ur-BEE-nah) has been named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Player to Watch for the Texas Region, the ITA announced.
One player from each of the 12 ITA regions received the award, which is presented to the player who has an outstanding season and is expected to perform at a high level the rest of her career. The player's sportsmanship and character also is considered.
The 12 regional winners will now be in contention for the national award, to be presented May 25.
"Nazari is a class act on and off the court and could become one of the best players to ever play for Texas A&M," Aggie head coach Bobby Kleinecke said. "She is always extremely focused on her game and is by far one of the most professional acting and respectful players on the court, not only because of the way she handles herself -- never getting rattled or confrontational -- but for the respect she shows to her opponents and to officials. She is a true leader by example."
Urbina (Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico), the Aggies' first freshman to be selected to compete in the NCAA Division I Women's Singles Championships, is 32-5 (.865) in singles, ranking fourth in the A&M records for most wins in a season. An All-Big 12 selection in both singles and doubles and the Big 12 Conference No. 2 singles champion with a 10-0 record, she enters the first round of the NCAA Singles Championships riding a nine-match winning streak.
"Nazari has gotten better and better as the year has gone on, and she will be a dangerous threat to anyone in the NCAA singles draw," Kleinecke said.
Urbina has been listed in every ITA national singles rankings published this spring, ranking as high as No. 47 and currently listed No. 51. She went 21-2 in dual matches only, going 2-1 at the No. 1 line, 14-0 at No. 2 and 5-1 at No. 3, and was named the Big 12 Player of the Week on April 13.
She is 9-3 against nationally ranked players, including a straight-set 6-3, 6-4 victory over 18th-ranked Nina Secerbegovic of Baylor at the No. 2 line on April 14, as well as a 6-3, 6-3 win against 43rd-ranked Irene Rehberger at the No. 1 position in the Aggies' season-ending 4-2 loss to No. 26 South Florida in the first round of the NCAA Championships.
Urbina made her A&M career debut last fall at the Midland Racquet Club Invitational and advanced to the semifinals in singles. She was the consolation champion at the ITA Texas Regional and finished the fall with an 11-3 tournament record.
In doubles, Urbina is tied for the team lead in wins with a 26-12 record. She has been ranked as high as No. 29 during the spring with partner Elzé Potgieter, and the pair is currently No. 34, having gone 13-8 at the No. 1 line. They are alternates at the NCAA Doubles Championships.
In the fall, Urbina and Potgieter advanced to the semifinals of the ITA Texas Regional. Urbina and partner Sheri Olivier were the doubles champions at the HEB Baylor Invitational, and the pair advanced to the semifinals of the Midland Racquet Club Invitational.
A&M's 2010 P.D. Gandy award winner after leading the team in total victories in both singles and doubles, Urbina directed the Aggies to their 11th consecutive NCAA appearance and a 14-11 record.
ITA Player to Watch by Region
Northwest: Hilary Barte, Stanford
Southwest: Julia Trunk, San Diego State
Mountain: Anastasia Putilina, Utah
Texas: Nazari Urbina, Texas A&M
Central: Anouk Tigu, Arkansas
Midwest: Denise Muresan, Michigan
Northeast: Hilary Bartlett, Princeton
Ohio Valley: Maria Sorbello, Tennessee
Atlantic: Lindsey Hardenbergh, Virginia
Carolina: Martina Pavelec, Wake Forest
Southern: Kristi Boxx, Mississippi
Southeast: Bianca Eichkorn, Miami (FL)