Wolverines Win Multiple ITA Regional Awards
6/10/2025 11:49:00 AM | Women's Tennis
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's tennis team won five ITA Midwest Regional Awards on Tuesday (June 10) after capturing the 2025 Big Ten championship and advancing to the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
Winning awards were Ronni Bernstein (Coach of the Year), Ty Schaub (Assistant Coach of the Year), Julia Fliegner (Senior Player of the Year), Piper Charney (Player to Watch) and Emily Sartz-Lunde (Rookie of the Year).
Bernstein won the award for the sixth time after guiding the Wolverines to a 27-5 overall record, the 2025 Big Ten championship, the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament and a No. 3 season-ending ranking -- the highest in program history. Bernstein was also named the Big Ten Coach of the Year for the fourth straight year and the 10th time in her illustrious career, the most ever by a coach in Big Ten women's tennis history. Schaub grabbed the award in his first season on staff and for the third time as an assistant coach.
Fliegner completed her illustrious career in the maize and blue with 113 singles wins, ranking fifth all-time. She won a career-high 33 singles matches this season, going 17-2 in dual matches. Fliegner went 16-2 at the top of the lineup and clinched Michigan's 4-0 win over No. 20 Oklahoma State to advance to the first Final Four in program history. She was the female recipient of the Big Ten Medal of Honor, becoming just the third women's tennis player to earn the prestigious award. Fliegner finished the season ranked No. 5 in singles while coming in as high as No. 2 during the season. She is the fourth Wolverines to earn Senior Player of the Year honors in the Midwest.
Charney strung together her second straight 30-win season, winning a team-best 35 matches behind a 35-10 overall record. After playing at No. 6 last season, Charney vaulted up to the No. 2 spot in the lineup while going 21-4 in dual matches. She earned All-Big Ten first-team honors behind a 9-1 singles record in conference action. Charney participated in the 2024 NCAA Singles Championship, reaching the second round in her first appearance. She has 72 wins through her first two seasons, with her .800 winning percentage currently ranking second all-time. Charney is the third player in program history to earn Midwest Player to Watch honors.
Sartz-Lunde was named the Rookie of the Year after taking home Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. Sartz-Lunde was the eighth Wolverine in program history to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, while also garnering a spot on the first-ever all-freshman team. The freshman from Oslo compiled a 25-9 overall singles record, going 14-5 in dual matches. She finished the season ranked No. 55 in singles by the ITA. Sartz-Lunde is the ninth Wolverine to earn Rookie of the Year honors from the ITA.
Regional award winners are eligible for national honors, announced on Friday (June 13).
