Women's Tennis 7/10/2023 4:50:00 PM Greg Hartlage, Director of Media Relations

Women’s Tennis Earns Four ITA Scholar-Athletes

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Four Western Carolina women's tennis players were named Scholar-Athletes by the Intercollege Tennis Association (ITA) announced on Monday. The Catamounts continue their excellence as it marks the 11th straight year WCU has had multiple ITA Scholar-Athletes.

The quartet was led by Angela Perez who earned the honors for the second straight season after being named to the CSC Academic All-District team earlier this spring. Perez was joined by freshmen Jade Groen, Madison Schwarz, and Chloe Schwarz.

Western Carolina was among the eight Southern Conference schools honored on Monday as the league had 38 student-athletes receive the honor from the ITA.

Chloe Schwarz made her debut season count as the Adelaide, Australia native finished with a 9-3 singles record for the Catamounts which included league wins over Wofford and Samford. Schwarz began her college career fast with eight straight singles victories including a win over #22 Tennessee. She was able to tally straight-set singles wins in all nine victories.

Schwarz added nine doubles victories including five of those wins paired with Isabella Sambola with three of those in SoCon play. Schwarz carries a 3.957 GPA as she's majoring in Integrated Health Sciences.

Madison Schwarz joined her sister as a Scholar-Athlete honoree on Monday as she finished her debut season with seven singles wins playing in the top half of the lineup for Western Carolina. She earned four of her seven singles wins from the No. 2 spot in the lineup card. Schwarz also grabbed a win at the No. 3 spot in the lineup over UNCG.

She was able to record nine doubles wins all from the top of the doubles lineup for WCU which included a 4-1 mark with Angela Perez as the duo garnered league wins over Mercer and UNCG. She carries a 3.867 GPA as a communications major.

Angela Perez was named an ITA Scholar-Athlete for the second straight season as the Tarragona, Spain native finished with a 13-4 mark in singles play which included a 7-1 record at No. 5 in the Catamounts lineup. She also claimed victories in five of her eight matches at the No. 4 spot in the singles lineup. Perez was able to earn SoCon wins over Mercer, UNCG and Furman.

She claimed nine doubles wins including the 4-1 aforementioned record with Madison Schwarz as the pair picked up league wins over Mercer and UNCG. Perez earned CSC Academic All-District Honors as she carries a 3.601 GPA in Sports Management.

Jade Groen rounds out the quartet honored on Monday as she was able to tally a team-high 14 wins in the upper half of the WCU lineup. Groen had a 5-1 mark at No. 3 singles and 4-1 record in the No. 4 spot in the Catamounts singles lineup. She was able to claim Southern Conference wins over Furman, Samford and Chattanooga and was able to tally an 11-2 non-conference record.

In doubles action, Groen finished with a 15-5 record which included 14 wins paired with Anrea Redondo as the duo went 4-2 in SoCon play and won eight of nine matches during the middle portion of the 2023 campaign. The pair was named to the Second Team All-Conference in doubles play for their performance during the spring season. Groen earned a Player of the Week honor while also being named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team as she carries a 3.58 GPA in Criminal Justice.

Within the sport of tennis, student-athletes continue to exceed expectations in the classroom and on the court. In 2023, 1,513 Division I Women's student-athletes were named an ITA Scholar-Athlete.

In order to earn ITA Scholar-Athlete status a player must meet the following criteria: 1.) have a grade point average of at least 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year, and 2.) be listed on the institutional eligibility form.

Keep track of everything related to Catamount women's tennis and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (FB.com/CatamountSports) and Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountTennis).

Western Carolina University's All-Time ITA Honorees:
2023: Angela Perez, Jade Groen, Madison Schwarz and Chloe Schwarz
2022: Hoda Habib, Jordyn King, Angela Perez, Julia Pezzuco and Jacy Smith.
2021: Carli Deehr, Emily Elliott, Kata Foldeak, Hoda Habib, Jordyn King, Julia Pezzuco, Jacy Smith and Anna Uljanov.
2020: Carli Deehr, Emily Elliott, Jordyn King, Lauren McCall, Jordan Strickland, and Julia Pezzuco.
2019: Carli Deehr, Jordyn King, Lauren McCall, Jordan Strickland, Savannah Taranto, Julia Pezzuco, Jacy Smith and Alexa Webb
2018: Carli Deehr, Jordyn King, Lauren McCall, Jordan Strickland, Savannah Taranto, Caitlin Ward and Alexa Webb
2017: Elizabeth Ansari, Lauren McCall, Madison Riley, Jordan Strickland, Savannah Taranto, and Alexa Webb
2016: Elizabeth Ansari, Shannon Bettiol, Gaby Hurt, Stacia Kissell, Erin Maguire, Megan McLinden, Nicole Nielly, Savannah Taranto and Alexa Webb
2015: Elizabeth Ansari, Shannon Bettiol, Erin Maguire, Megan McLinden, Montse Mesalles and Nicole Nielly
2014: Stacia Kissell, Erin Maguire, Megan McLinden, Nicole Nielly and Sara Ruiz Pajares
2013: Shannon Bettiol, Karen Jiminez, Stacia Kissell, Erin Maguire, Nicole Nielly and Sara Ruiz Pajares
2008: Trish Hanson and Susanna Sjokvist
2007: Trish Hanson and Susanna Sjokvist
2006: Trish Hanson and Susanna Sjokvist
2005: Kristin Cotton-Ikard, Trish Hanson, Ashley Harris, Sara Ryckman and Susanna Sjokvist
2004: Kristin Cotton and Rocio Perez
2003: Kristin Cotton

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Players Mentioned

Kata Foldeak: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Hoda Habib: 5' 8"; Senior

Jordyn King: PLAYER; 5' 4"; Redshirt Senior

Julia Pezzuco: PLAYER; Senior

Jacy Smith: PLAYER; Senior

Angela Perez: 5' 5"; Freshman

Isabella Sambola: 5' 6"; Freshman

Chloe Schwarz: 5' 7"; Freshman

Madison Schwarz: 5' 8"; Freshman

Jade Groen: 5' 9"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Kata Foldeak
: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Hoda Habib
: 5' 8"; Senior

Jordyn King
: 5' 4"; Redshirt Senior
: PLAYER

Julia Pezzuco
: Senior
: PLAYER

Jacy Smith
: Senior
: PLAYER

Angela Perez
: 5' 5"; Freshman

Isabella Sambola
: 5' 6"; Freshman

Chloe Schwarz
: 5' 7"; Freshman

Madison Schwarz
: 5' 8"; Freshman

Jade Groen
: 5' 9"; Freshman

Schedule

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned