TEMPE, Ariz. – Officials from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced on Tuesday that three members of the Nova Southeastern Sharks tennis team have been named to the association’s All-America Team and the Sharks’ final ranking for 2021 lands at No. 8 in the nation. Natalie Espinal and Karolina Snita joined Daniela Obando as repeat honorees to make up half of the Sunshine State Conference’s nation-leading six honors.
With the Sharks’ final ranking, that marks three consecutive seasons with NSU finishing in the Top-10 under fifth-year head coach Doug Neagle. This is the second consecutive year for the Sharks with three All-America honorees.
“Congratulations to Natty, Karo and Danny for these prestigious All-American honors,” Neagle said. “It’s well-deserved for all three with how they navigated a year with so much uncertainty. It speaks volumes for our program and the depth we have, with three players represented among the best in the nation!”
Previously named an ITA All-American in 2020, Natalie Espinal (Sophomore/Tegucigalpa, Honduras) ranked 16th in the final national singles rankings and earned her second All-America award. Playing at No. 1 singles for the Sharks, Espinal accumulated an 8-4 record with five matches against nationally-ranked opponents. Last season, Espinal was on the ITA All-America list for both singles and doubles, finishing as half of the program’s first top-ranked tandem and becoming the first Shark and SSC dual-honoree. Espinal was the SSC Player of the Year for 2021 as well as both doubles and singles All-SSC First Team.
Making consecutive appearances of her own on the singles All-America list, Karolina Snita (Redshirt Junior/Glogow, Poland) was dangerous for NSU on court No. 2, picking up an 8-1 singles record and No. 19 national ranking. Snita was named in early May to the All-SSC Singles First Team.
Previously earning All-America doubles accolades during the 2018 season, Daniela Obando (Senior/Tegucigalpa, Honduras) was extremely impactful for NSU in her final campaign with the Sharks, producing a 7-2 record and finishing the year ranked No. 20. She earned All-SSC Second Team honors in both singles and doubles.
In the national rankings but just missing formal accolades, Espinal and partner Chantal Nosievici came in at No. 11 nationally in their first season paired together.
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