Rhode Island College junior Jenna Lisi (Cranston, R.I.) is the 2022 recipient of the United States Tennis Association's (USTA) Jill Craybas Award, signifying her as the Rhode Island Female Collegiate Player of the Year. It is the third consecutive year that Lisi has received this award.
The award goes to the top female college player from Rhode Island, who does not necessarily play for an in-state school. Lisi will be presented the award at the INFOSYS Hall of Fame Open during USTA Day on Tuesday, July 12 in Newport.
"We are thrilled to be able to present the awards at the Hall of Fame tournament again," said Douglas Chapman, president and CEO of USTA Rhode Island. "We were unable to do that the past two years due to COVID restrictions. Governor Dan McKee stepped up to present the awards last year at the Rhode Island State House. We are happy to be able to present them again during New England's premier annual tennis event."
During the 2021-22 campaign, Lisi was named the Little East Women's Tennis Co-Player of the Year and First Team All-Little East in both singles and doubles. Lisi was 12-0 (1.000) at No. 1 singles and 13-1 (.929) at No. 1 doubles on the season. She was named Little East Player of the Week three times.
RIC went 16-1 overall and 8-0 (first place) in the Little East. The Anchorwomen captured the program's seventh consecutive and 13th overall Little East Regular Season Championship. The No. 1-seeded Anchorwomen defeated No. 2-seeded Bridgewater State, 5-1, in the finals to clinch their fifth straight, and 11th overall, Little East Tournament title on Oct. 23. RIC went on to the NCAA Div. III Women's Tennis Championship and fell, 5-0, vs. Johns Hopkins in the first round on May 13.
ABOUT THE JILL CRAYBAS AWARD
A native of East Greenwich, Craybas is the most successful tennis player in Rhode Island history. She was a RIISL high school state singles champion for the Lincoln School and captured the 1996 NCAA singles championship for the University of Florida, when she was the National College Player of the Year. She is the only player in NCAA history to be a member of Div. I championship teams at two different schools (Texas and Florida). A two-time SEC Player of the Year, she finished her college career with a 124-18 record. A Florida Gator Hall of Famer, she played nearly 20 years on the WTA Tour. She won the 2002 Japan Open and five doubles titles on the main tour. She was ranked as high as #3 in the US and #41 in the world. A regular for the U.S. Fed Cup team. Her most notable result came at Wimbledon in 2005, where she defeated Serena Williams and Marion Bartoli.
PAST RECIPIENTS
2022 – Jenna Lisi (Cranston), Rhode Island College
2021 – Jenna Lisi (Cranston), Rhode Island College
2020 – Jenna Lisi (Cranston), Rhode Island College
2019 – Julia Pezzuco (Johnston), Western Carolina University
2018 – Natalia Pezzuco (Johnston), Union College
2017 – Evelyn Miller (Smithfield), Colby-Sawyer
2016 – Sadie Campanella (Chepachet), Rhode Island College
2015 – Rebecca Curran (Rumford), Williams College
Original source can be found here.
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