SEASON REVIEW: UTD Women Make History in 2021

The UT Dallas women's tennis team claimed its third-ever ASC title this spring after the Comets claimed their third-straight ASC division crown in 2021.

Moving back to the ASC's East Division, the Comets rolled through divisional play with a perfect 4-0 mark and ended the season with a 12-4 overall record. The Comets won the ASC West title in 2018 and 2019. (ASC STANDINGS)

The Comets made their second-straight trip to the NCAA D-III National Championship this season as well after earning their second straight league tournament championship. UTD also won the tournament title in 2013.

UTD held a 4-3 record in late March after suffering losses to NCAA D-I and NCAA D-II programs early in the season. The Comets would then roll off eight straight victories, capped by a 5-1 win over ASC West champion and ASC Tournament host Hardin-Simmons for their third ASC title. 

The entire UTD lineup found a spot on either the ASC's All-East Division First Team and the prestigious All-ASC squad. In addition, UTD head coach Bryan Whitt was tabbed the division's Coach of the Year.

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For the first time in UTD women's tennis history, the Comets sent both a singles player and a doubles team to the NCAA D-III National Individual Championships.

Kathy Joseph, who closed her career as the UTD all-time leader in both singles and doubles victories, became the first Comet ever selected in both singles and doubles while Joseph and teammate Samantha Wong made the deepest run ever by a UTD tandem.

Joseph rolled through early-round competition in the singles draw, claiming straight-set victories in each of the first three rounds of the tournament advance to the national semifinals. Joseph's singles run would come to an end, however, in the round of four with a straight-set loss. (READ MORE)

Joseph and Wong need a tough three-set victory in the opening round of the doubles draw and had to battle a weather delay and a venue change before regaining their momentum. After the marathon victory, the two-some earned a straight-set win in the quarterfinals before bowing out with a three-set defeat in the semifinals. (READ MORE)

Both Comets ended the season named All-American by the ITA.

UT Dallas head tennis coach Bryan Whitt was honored as the ASC Divisional Women's Tennis Coach of the Year for the third straight season and fourth time in his career with the Comets.

Whitt was recognized as the ASC East Division Women's Tennis Coach of the Year this spring after leading his Comets to another divisional title. He also earned the ASC East honors in 2013 and was tabbed the ASC West Women's Coach of the Year in 2018 and 2019. No honors were given for 2020.

Whitt has led the Comets to three ASC titles over his career at UTD, claiming the crown in 2013, 2019 and 2021. His squads have now won four ASC divisional titles and have qualified for the last 11 straight ASC Tournaments. Whitt boasts a 118-123 women's record in his 17 seasons with the program.

The UT Dallas women's tennis team placed seven player's on the All-American Southwest Conference teams this spring.

Comets Svaksha Iyengar, Rebecca Jackson, Kathy Joseph, Stephanie Joseph, Suzuka Nishino, Saumya Vedula and Samantha Wong were all named All-ASC after claiming first team All-ASC East honors this spring. 

Kathy Joseph was named the ASC East Most Valuable Player, earned divisional MVP honors for the third time in her career. She was tabbed the ASC West MVP after the 2018 and 2019 campaigns. 

For a full recount of the Comets' All-ASC honors, click here.