Kansas State University Athletics
ITA Tabs Steinberg Regional Coach of the Year, Linares Rookie
May 21, 2018 | Tennis
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State head women's tennis coach Danielle Steinberg was named Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Central Region Coach of the Year while freshman Maria Linares was tabbed ITA Central Region Rookie of the Year, the organization announced Monday.
Steinberg, who just completed her fourth season as head coach, is the second K-State head coach to earn regional coach-of-the-year honors (Steve Bietau) while Linares collects K-State's first rookie-of-the-year award since 2011 and third in school history.
The duo helped propel K-State to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003 and third berth overall. The Wildcats defeated Kentucky in the opening round before falling to No. 14 seed Northwestern in the Round of 32.
K-State (15-11) equaled the second-highest win total in a spring season in program history and reached an ITA ranking as high as No. 28.
Linares was also named Big 12 Freshman of the Year following a spring season in which she posted a team-high 14 singles victories (14-7). Playing primarily at the No. 2 position in the lineup, the Venezuelan also earned a spot on the All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Freshman Team.
Linares clinched the Cats' 4-3 win over Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament with a three-set victory, 7-6 (9-7), 3-6, 76 (8-6). She was 6-4 in three-set matches in her freshman campaign.
The Wildcats' lineup is set to return six of eight players and featured four freshmen in 2017-18, including four of the top five spots. K-State finished the regular season with a national ranking of No. 42.
Steinberg, who just completed her fourth season as head coach, is the second K-State head coach to earn regional coach-of-the-year honors (Steve Bietau) while Linares collects K-State's first rookie-of-the-year award since 2011 and third in school history.
The duo helped propel K-State to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003 and third berth overall. The Wildcats defeated Kentucky in the opening round before falling to No. 14 seed Northwestern in the Round of 32.
K-State (15-11) equaled the second-highest win total in a spring season in program history and reached an ITA ranking as high as No. 28.
Linares was also named Big 12 Freshman of the Year following a spring season in which she posted a team-high 14 singles victories (14-7). Playing primarily at the No. 2 position in the lineup, the Venezuelan also earned a spot on the All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Freshman Team.
Linares clinched the Cats' 4-3 win over Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament with a three-set victory, 7-6 (9-7), 3-6, 76 (8-6). She was 6-4 in three-set matches in her freshman campaign.
The Wildcats' lineup is set to return six of eight players and featured four freshmen in 2017-18, including four of the top five spots. K-State finished the regular season with a national ranking of No. 42.
Players Mentioned
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