TEMPE – For the second time in as many seasons, the Sun Devil women's tennis duo of Ilze Hattingh and Lauryn John-Baptiste claimed another All-America honor by finishing as the No. 8 tandem in the NCAA in the final ITA doubles poll of the season.
"It's a well-deserved accomplishment for these two," coach Sheila McInerney said. "They had an outstanding year and they reached No. 1 in the country twice this spring. It's a huge honor to receive an All-America designation once in your career, but to do it two years in-a-row is fantastic."
Hattingh/John-Baptiste were the No. 3 overall seed heading into the NCAA Doubles Championships, but had to withdraw from the tournament because of a nagging injury John-Baptiste had played through for the entirety of her sophomore season.
Because the two were not able to participate in the tournament, their All-American status came down to the final ITA poll. In the last ranking, the two Devils finished the 2019 season at No. 8 overall, earning a second-straight honor after another historic campaign.
They are the first pairing in ASU history to earn consecutive All-America honors in doubles, and the first team since Karen Bergan and Jennifer Rojohn to earn two All-America honors as a duo (1989, 1991).
Hattingh/John-Baptiste's second season together was just as dominant as their first as they rolled through competition, going 15-5 and helping the Devils continue their doubles dominance as ASU took the point in 17 of their 21 regular season outings. They were recognized by the Pac-12 as the best doubles team in the conference and took home the honor of Women's Doubles Team of the Year.
On their road to the top of the conference and the top of the national poll, the tandem defeated 15 duos ranked in the top-85 and six ranked in the top-30. Their biggest victory of the season came when they upended No. 3 Kulikov/Valdes of Southern California, 6-2. That Trojan tandem went on to be the No. 1 overall seed at the 2019 NCAA Championships and advanced to the national semifinal.
Hattingh and John-Baptiste will be in maroon and gold again next season, and will look to become the first women in school history to earn three consecutive doubles All-America honors. For Hattingh, it will be her final season with the Sun Devils, while John-Baptiste will lace up for her junior campaign.
"We're extremely proud of Lauryn and Ilze for the way they competed this season," McInerney said. "We're thankful to have them back next season and looking forward to see what they can do."
"It's a well-deserved accomplishment for these two," coach Sheila McInerney said. "They had an outstanding year and they reached No. 1 in the country twice this spring. It's a huge honor to receive an All-America designation once in your career, but to do it two years in-a-row is fantastic."
Hattingh/John-Baptiste were the No. 3 overall seed heading into the NCAA Doubles Championships, but had to withdraw from the tournament because of a nagging injury John-Baptiste had played through for the entirety of her sophomore season.
Because the two were not able to participate in the tournament, their All-American status came down to the final ITA poll. In the last ranking, the two Devils finished the 2019 season at No. 8 overall, earning a second-straight honor after another historic campaign.
They are the first pairing in ASU history to earn consecutive All-America honors in doubles, and the first team since Karen Bergan and Jennifer Rojohn to earn two All-America honors as a duo (1989, 1991).
Hattingh/John-Baptiste's second season together was just as dominant as their first as they rolled through competition, going 15-5 and helping the Devils continue their doubles dominance as ASU took the point in 17 of their 21 regular season outings. They were recognized by the Pac-12 as the best doubles team in the conference and took home the honor of Women's Doubles Team of the Year.
On their road to the top of the conference and the top of the national poll, the tandem defeated 15 duos ranked in the top-85 and six ranked in the top-30. Their biggest victory of the season came when they upended No. 3 Kulikov/Valdes of Southern California, 6-2. That Trojan tandem went on to be the No. 1 overall seed at the 2019 NCAA Championships and advanced to the national semifinal.
Hattingh and John-Baptiste will be in maroon and gold again next season, and will look to become the first women in school history to earn three consecutive doubles All-America honors. For Hattingh, it will be her final season with the Sun Devils, while John-Baptiste will lace up for her junior campaign.
"We're extremely proud of Lauryn and Ilze for the way they competed this season," McInerney said. "We're thankful to have them back next season and looking forward to see what they can do."