AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn women's tennis assistant coach Raquel Atawo and graduate student Taylor Russo were recognized by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association as the group announced its regional awards Monday.
Atawo was named the ITA Southern Regional Assistant Coach of the Year, and Russo earned the ITA Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award. The ITA Southern Region includes all schools in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Atawo, in her first year at Auburn, helped lead the Tigers to a 14-9 overall record, a 7-6 mark in SEC play and a trip to the NCAA Tournament, where Auburn advanced to the second round. The Tigers finished 22nd in the final ITA team rankings. Under her leadership, the Tigers saw several historic moments during the 2020-21 season, including the program's first-ever win over Florida, a win in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017, and sophomore Selin Ovunc earning All-America honors after advancing to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Singles Championship.
Russo wrapped up her Auburn career with 90 doubles wins and 85 singles victories, both of which rank in the top six in Auburn history. This season, she was 7-4 in both doubles and singles this spring before an injury on March 11 vs. Mississippi State ended her season. She was ranked 99th nationally in singles and as high as 10th in doubles; she and Ovunc finished the season ranked 23rd nationally and first in the Southern Region in doubles. Russo was also named to the SEC Community Service Team for the third straight season.
Atawo's honor as Regional Assistant Coach of the Year is the fourth for the program; Kelly Brown earned the award in 2003, and Chris Hooshyar won the honor in 2016 and 2018. Russo is the program's fourth recipient of the Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award, joining Jackie Kasler (2014), Jen Pfiefler (2015) and Andie Dikosavljevic (2017).
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2021 ITA Southern Region Awards
Wilson ITA Coach of the Year: Julia & Michael Sell, LSU
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Raquel Atawo, Auburn
Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship: Tereza Janatova, Ole Miss
ITA Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award: Taylor Russo, Auburn
ITA Rookie of the Year: Chloe Cirotte, Mississippi State
ITA Most Improved Senior: Alba Cortina Pou, Alabama
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Paris Corley, LSU
ITA Community Service Award: UAB