Kaluder receives ITA regional award

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas tennis player Ela Kaluder was named the Central Region Player to Watch by the ITA.

The regional ITA college tennis coach’s awards were announced this week, and the Lady Razorback sophomore was singled out as the up-and-coming player for Arkansas’ ITA region.

“This award is a real feather in Ela’s cap,” UA head coach Michael Hegarty said. “She is a strong contender for the national player to watch award, and this is usually an indicator of great things to come in her career here at Arkansas.”

Kaluder was selected to participate in the NCAA singles championship starting this weekend. The Zagreb, Croatia, native led Arkansas with a 15-7 record in the spring, all on the first court.

Ranked among the top 35 in the country at the close of the regular season, Kaluder led Arkansas to an 11-11 overall record in the spring.

She is the first Lady’Back honored by the ITA since the 2001 season when two-time all-American Chin Bee Khoo was selected as the ITA regional senior of the year.

In April, Kaluder became the first Lady’Back selected first-team all-Southeastern Conference.