TEMPE, Ariz. — University of Tulsa women's tennis senior Maria Berlanga Bandera has been named the ITA Central Region Senior Player of the Year after an outstanding final season with the Golden Hurricane.

Berlanga Bandera was one of three American Athletic Conference players to be regognized in the ITA Central Region honors. Wichita State's Xin Tong Wang was chosen as the region's Player to Watch, while the Shockers' Anne Knuettel earned the Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award.
 
The women's central region is composed of 10 schools, including Tulsa, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Iowa, Kansas, Memphis, Wichita State, Iowa State, Kansas State and Nebraska.
 
Berlanga is the fifth player in program history to be named the central region's top senior player, joining Martina Okalova (2016-21) in 2021, Michelle Farley (2009-12) in 2013, Alicia Pillay (2001-03) in 2003 and Anoujska van Exel (1997-99) in 1998.
 
Ranked as high as No. 65 in the national singles rankings, Berlanga went 26-8 overall with a 19-6 dual-match mark at No. 1 Singles. She put together five wins this year against ranked opponents, including against No. 47 Alina Shcherbinina (Oklahoma), No. 47 Josie Usereau (Arizona), No. 93 Carlina Gomez (Arkansas), No. 104 Xin Tong Wang (Wichita State) and No. 124 Sophie Llewellyn (SMU) in a match that Berlanga clinched for Tulsa for the 4-3 win.
 
In doubles play, she and her senior teammate Lily Hutchings formed the Hurricane's No. 1 duo, ranking as high as No. 18 in the nation. Together, they captured the ITA Central Regional doubles title for a bid to the NCAA Individual Championships in the fall. They also earned three wins over ranked foes, the best of which came against No. 33 Darya Schwartzman/Fernanda Martinez of Rice. As a pair, Berlanga and Hutchings clinched eight doubles points for TU to help the Hurricane win doubles action in 20 of 27 matches and in 18 of 19 team victories.
 
At the end of the season, Berlanga ranked as the No. 5 duo with Hutchings and stood as the No. 9 singles player among all central region players.
  
Central Region Award Winners
ITA Coach of the Year: Audra Cohen, Oklahoma
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: Mariana Cobra, Oklahoma
Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship: Emma Staker, Oklahoma
ITA Cissie Leary Sportsmanship: Anne Knuettel, Wichita State
ITA Most Improved Player: Maralgoo Chogsomjav, Kansas State
ITA Player to Watch: Xin Tong Wang,Wichita State
ITA Rookie of the Year: Julia Camblor, Iowa State
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Maria Berlanga, Tulsa