ITA Most Improved Senior Award
Stephanie Shulman from Emory University has been named the 2023 ITA Most Improved Senior Award winner.
Shulman has had an unconventional career at Emory. She hardly cracked the lineup as a freshman, did not return to campus during her sophomore season due to COVID, and slowly made her way into the singles lineup last year, finishing the season with a perfect 4-0 record in UAA/NCAA post-season play at the No. 4 position.
Fast forward to this year, she opened her senior fall season by capturing the ITA South Regional Singles Title and advancing to the Quarterfinals at the ITA Cup. She has played from the No. 1 singles spot for Emory all season and also serves as the team captain.
She has stepped into her leadership role this year with a firm commitment to bring this team together and the strength of the team's culture is a testament to the work she has put in to develop relationships and create open communication between players and coaches alike.
Shulman finished the 2023 season ranked No. 16 in the ITA Singles Rankings.
A Letter From Head Coach Bridget Disher
It has been amazing to watch Steph’s growth over the past four years, as both a player and a person.
From a freshman who was fighting for the #6 spot, to a sophomore whose season was taken away by COVID, to a junior who cracked the lineup in the latter part of the season, to a Senior Captain who kicked off the season with an ITA Regional Singles Championship and followed it up with a winning record at the #1 singles position…Steph’s success is a testament to her commitment, resilience, and respect for the process.
She embodies the beauty of college tennis as a four-year journey and we could not be prouder. Steph has been a true leader for this team and her legacy will continue to have a positive impact on generations of Eagles to come.