Kate Klein Named ITA Central Region Rookie of the Year

St. Louis, Mo., May 14, 2010 – Freshman Kate Klein of the No. 21 Washington University in St. Louis women’s tennis team was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division III Central Region Rookie Player of the Year, as announced by the association.

Klein, who is ranked as the No. 8 player in the ITA Central Region, is just the second student-athlete in school history to be tabbed as the ITA Rookie of the Year and the first since 1999, when Katie Abrams earned the distinction.

Klein has had a standout season for Washington University, playing most of the year at No. 1 singles and doubles. She has posted an overall singles record of 22-6, and is 10-3 playing the No. 1 position. Klein advanced to the Wilson/ITA Central Region singles tournament semifinals during the fall.

Earlier this week Klein was one of 32 student-athletes selected to compete in the NCAA Division III individual singles championship, scheduled for May 28-30, at the Battleground Tennis Complex in Fredericksburg, Va. She is just the seventh student-athlete in school history to qualify for the NCAA individual championship and the first since 2006.
 

Washington University is making is third-straight team appearance in the NCAA Championship, and advanced to the third round of the tournament with a 5-2 victory over Calvin College on Friday morning in Chicago, Ill.

The Bears will face regional host and third ranked University of Chicago on Saturday, May 15, at 12 p.m., for the right to advance to the NCAA quarterfinals.