May 14, 2012

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jaklin Alawi from the South Carolina women’s tennis team was named the ITA Carolina Region Player to Watch on Monday.

Alawi led the Gamecocks in singles and doubles victories all season. She finished the year with a 25-9 record playing singles and occupied the No. 2 position the entire year, where she went 14-7. Alawi posted a 6-5 record there in SEC play and currently holds a national ranking of 88th. She has been ranked all spring and ascended as high as No. 33. In doubles, she posted a 22-12 combined record with four different partners and was 15-6 at No. 1 doubles. She is ranked No. 38 with Dijana Stojic and No. 79 with Anya Morgina. Included in her doubles wins was a victory over the No. 1-ranked team in the country. In April, Alawi was named the team’s MVP at the annual Gamecock Gala and she earned a spot on the All-SEC Second Team.

The 2012 season marks the second year in a row South Carolina has won the Player to Watch award for the region. Last year, Anya Morgina took home the honor after completing a breakthrough year at the No. 1 singles spot. Alawi is the eighth Gamecock in school history to earn a regional award from the ITA and she is the third player to pick up Player to Watch. Before Morgina, Heather Greene was the first in 1994.

A complete list of the ITA Carolina Region awards follows.

Coach of the Year: Brian Kalbas (North Carolina)
Assistant Coach of the Year: Erica Zabkar (UNC Greensboro)
Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award: Caroline Newman (College of Charleston)
Senior of the Year: Shinann Featherston (North Carolina)
Player to Watch: Jaklin Alawi (South Carolina)
Rookie of the Year: Beatrice Capra (Duke)
Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship: Shinann Featherson (North Carolina)