2024 ITA Regional Awards

TEMPE, Ariz. – The 2023 ITA West Region Rookie of the Year sophomore Jessica Plazas has come away with yet another accolade this season, as the Bogotá, Colombia native was named the ITA West Region Player to Watch for her 2024 campaign as announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association on Wednesday.

"I'm so proud of Jessica," said Head Coach Nicole Briceño. "She fought her way back from a season-ending injury last year and worked really hard on and off the court to have the amazing season she had. She is such a tough competitor and it's so awesome to see how much she's improved and how much room she has to keep getting better."

Plazas, at one point ranked the No. 62 singles player in the nation this year, was an All-PacWest Second Team in singles recipient this season as she has maintained a 17-2 overall singles record (fifth-most wins in program history), primarily competing on Court 2 while defeating two nationally-ranked opponents. Over on the doubles court, Plazas recorded a 14-4 record this season with teammate and freshman Estelle Najean. Winning 31 total matches in the campaign, the Acting major has won a set 6-2 or better on 32 occasions.

"She's such a great role model and I am excited to see what amazing things she'll continue to do," Briceño said. "She deserves it."

Most recently, Plazas came back in her second set against No. 46 Concordia to clinch the postseason victory and send the Urban Knights to Nationals, a match that followed a PacWest Conference Championship as she contributed six wins to the squad in the tournament.

This is the third ITA honor in Plazas' career while it is first ITA West Region Player to Watch award for Academy of Art. With this award, it is now three consecutive years for the squad to earn an individual ITA award, with Plazas earning 2023 ITA West Region Rookie of the Year and Paulina Alvarez being awarded 2022 ITA West Region Rookie of the Year.