Emory University sophomore Bridget Harding along with Women's Tennis Head Coach Amy Bryant and Assistant Coach Jordan Wylie were honored by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) last week with Atlantic South Regional Awards as announced via press release by the organization.
Harding was selected as the ITA Atlantic South Region's Player to Watch following her second year with the Eagles. After playing the majority of her rookie season at fifth singles, Harding went 24-12 overall in singles matches as a sophomore, including a 16-9 mark at the No.1 position in dual matches, and reached the Quarterfinals of the singles draw at the NCAA Individual Championships. In doubles play with teammate Katarina Su, the tandem finished the season with a team-best 24 wins, going 24-9 overall, and also reached the NCAA Quarterfinals.
Harding earned All-America accolades in the spring in both singles and doubles after being selected as the fourth-seed in the singles draw and reaching the Singles Quarterfinals as well as winning a Round of 16 match with Su in the doubles competition. In the fall, Harding and Su added All-America kudos after capturing the ITA Fall South Regional Championship and advancing to the National Small College Division III title match. Harding is just the second Emory player to be named a regional Player to Watch and the first since Carina Alberelli in 2004.
Bryant was honored as the Wilson/ITA Atlantic South Region's Coach of the Year with Wylie garnering ITA Atlantic South Assistant Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Eagles to a school record 28 victories and the second national championship in the last three seasons and the seventh overall in program history. This marks the fourth time in Bryant's career she has been named the Regional Coach of the Year while this is the first time Wylie has been honored as the Regional Assistant Coach of the Year. Earlier this season, Bryant and Wylier earned University Athletic Association honors by being named part of the UAA Coaching Staff of the Year after claiming the team's fourth straight UAA title and the 27th overall in program history.