IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa women’s tennis junior Mia Mack has been named a first-team All-Big Ten selection, it was announced Wednesday by the league office.
The honor is the first of Mack’s career and it marks the fourth straight season a Hawkeye has earned All-Big Ten recognition.
“I am so proud of Mia and her outstanding spring season as a Hawkeye,” said head coach Sasha Boros. “This is a well-deserved honor in the Big Ten with so many excellent collegiate players. Mia’s high level of tennis and her competitive spirit inspires our team every day. She’s a joy to coach and an asset to Iowa in every way. I want to congratulate Mia on this outstanding honor.”
Mack finished the regular season with a 16-4 overall record, including an 8-2 mark in Big Ten play. The Löchgau, Germany, native went 11-4 at the No. 1 singles position, 5-0 at the two line and she posted five victories over nationally-ranked opponents.
Mack climbed as high as No. 52 in the ITA singles rankings on March 31 and she brings a No. 71 singles ranking into the postseason.
In doubles, Mack has won nine matches at the No. 1 position with eight of the victories being alongside senior Daianne Hayashida and three coming against nationally ranked opponents. The duo climbed as high as No. 25 in the ITA doubles rankings on March 3.
Mack was named the Co-Big Ten Player of the Week on March 11 after posting a combined 3-1 record against ranked opponents in Iowa dual victories over Northwestern and Illinois. Her three-set win over No. 34 McKenna Schaefbauer was her highest ranked win during the regular season.
Senior Nikita Vishwase was Iowa’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient – an honor presented to student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. The honorees must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the competition setting.
The Arizona native posted a 6-8 record in singles, competing primarily at the No. 4, 5 and 6 lines in singles, while winning eight doubles matches at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions.
The 11th-seeded Hawkeyes (12-13) open Big Ten Tournament action Thursday, facing No. 6 seed Wisconsin at 3:30 p.m. (CT) in Columbus, Ohio, at the Auer Tennis Complex. The dual will be streamed live on B1G+.
