Collins Named Honda Sport Award Winner For Tennis
June 7, 2016
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia women’s tennis senior Danielle Collins (St. Petersburg, Fla.) was named the Honda Sport Award winner for tennis, as announced on Tuesday (June 7) by THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).
Collins was selected by a vote of administrators from more than 1,000 NCAA member schools. Finalists included Hayley Carter (North Carolina), Francesca Di Lorenzo (Ohio State) and Luisa Stefani (Pepperdine).
The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 40 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports and signifies “the best in collegiate athletics.” With this honor, Collins becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious Honda Cup which will be presented on a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 27, 2016, in the Founder’s Room at the Galen Center on the campus of the University of Southern California in downtown Los Angeles.
“I feel very fortunate to receive such an incredible award,” Collins said. “I would like to thank everyone who has helped me with all of my successes along the way and the College Women Sports Awards organization. I feel so honored and am so happy I can accept this award as a Virginia Cavalier.”
Collins claimed the 2016 NCAA Women’s Tennis Singles Championship, earning her second NCAA singles title in the last three seasons. She also claimed the NCAA title in 2014 as a sophomore. She is the seventh woman all-time to win two NCAA singles titles and the first from the Atlantic Coast Conference. She also captured the ITA/Riviera All-American Championship and the Oracle/ITA Master’s Championship.
A three-time All-American, she was named the 2016 ITA Senior Player of the Year as she set the program record for singles wins by a senior with a 38-4 mark on the year. Collins went 29-4 against nationally-ranked opponents. She is a two-time Honda Award nominee and closed her collegiate career ranked No. 1 in the ITA singles rankings.
“Congratulations to Danielle on being named the Honda Sport Award winner for the sport of tennis,” said Virginia head coach Mark Guilbeau. “This is such a prestigious honor and an award that goes back many years and represents the very best of collegiate athletics. We are grateful to Honda and the College Women Sports Award committee for their selection of Danielle and for all they do to recognize these great student-athletes. I would also like to thank and congratulate Danielle’s parents and family, UVA Athletics, all of her team and our women’s tennis staff. These awards are a reflection of group effort and a program that provides great opportunities and support for its student-athletes. We are all very proud and happy for Danielle. Congratulations!”