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Women's Tennis

Women's Tennis Team Adds Two Transfers

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – The UNCW women's tennis team is adding a pair of graduate transfers to the roster for the upcoming 2021-22 season.

Head Coach Hans Olsen has announced the addition of Illinois standout Sasha Belaya and Vanderbilt star Lauren Gish to the squad.

Belaya, whose sister, Masha, played at CAA rival William & Mary, recently graduated from Illinois. The Melbourne, Fla., product will pursue a Master's Degree in Integrated Marketing Communications.

Belaya is the daughter of Katerina and Andrei Belaya and has been ranked as high as No. 30 nationally in doubles. She compiled a 39-32 singles record over the last four years in Urbana-Champaign and played No. 2 and No. 3 doubles with the Illini.

 "I'm extremely excited to attend UNCW this upcoming year as well as finish out my tennis career in Wilmington as a Seahawk," said Belaya. "I'm looking forward to being a part of the Integrated Marketing Communication program while also being able to be a part of the UNCW women's tennis team with a great group of girls and three fantastic coaches. I can't wait to get to work and hopefully be a part of many big moments for the UNCW program."

Belaya earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2019 and collected Spring, 2021, Academic All-Big Ten and 2021 ITA Scholar-Athlete recognition.

"We're extremely excited to welcome Sasha to our team," said Olsen. "Sasha brings a wealth of experience after competing four years in the Big Ten. Her poise and leadership are going to be great assets to our program."
 
Gish hails from Mooresville, N.C., and has played the last four seasons at Vanderbilt. The daughter of David and Catherine Gish, the veteran performer plans to earn her Master's Degree in Social Work after making the Dean's List in Nashville for eight semesters and collecting the ITA's Scholar-Athlete Award all four years.
 
On the court, Gish reached the finals in her flight as a freshman and sophomore at the Furman Fall Classic. She went 9-1 in doubles during the fall of her second year with the Commodores and won her doubles flight at the Furman Fall Classic and ITA Ohio Valley Regional.

"I'm very excited to join the Seahawk community and grateful to be part of such a warm and welcoming team," said Gish. "Growing up and competing on an individual basis, college tennis has been a really unique and incredible experience where I'm able to train and compete alongside teammates. I'm so lucky to have been given more time to compete at this level and I know I'm going to enjoy every moment with this team."

Olsen is excited about the experience that Gish brings to the program. "We're really looking forward to adding Lauren to our Seahawk roster. Having competed in the SEC for several years, Lauren has played at the highest level of collegiate tennis and we welcome her insight and experience she adds to this team."
 
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