For the third consecutive season, Nannan (Dallas) Zhang, a senior from BYU-Hawaii, was named the DII Honda Athlete of the Year nominee for Tennis as announced by Executive Director Chris Voelz of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.
Zhang is now designated one of 11 finalists for the prestigious DII Honda Woman Athlete of the Year. This will be voted on at the end of the academic year by national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of THE CWSA program, now in its 41st year.
Recently named the ITA Senior Player of the Year, she completes her season ranked No. 1 in both singles and doubles for the third-straight year. Zhang, hailing from Tianjin, China, ended her career with 54 consecutive wins at singles and was undefeated in back-to-back seasons in both singles and doubles. She boasts an incredible career record of 77-3 in singles and 90-6 in doubles.
In addition to being named to the DII Honda Athlete of the Year ballot for the third straight year, she is also a four-time first-team ITA All-American in both singles and doubles and the four-time PacWest Player of the Year. She also earned first-team All-PacWest honors in each of her four seasons.
"Tennis has been a very important part in my life, and I love what I'm doing, “ said Zhang. “To be nominated for the DII Honda Athlete of the Year award is a great honor and privilege! But this isn't only about an individual accomplishment or award for me, it's about what I have got to do and how I contribute to the team. I'm blessed to know a group of awesome people and be able to fight with them together."
"Dallas Zhang is a wonderful example to young women all over the world, “ stated head coach Dave Porter. “She is incredibly hard working and has excelled against all competition from all NCAA Divisions and during four NCAA National Championship Tournaments. Dallas' consistency, as demonstrated by two consecutive undefeated seasons in both singles and doubles is unrivaled.”
“Almost more importantly are her academic honors while taking challenging courses in a second language. She has shown to young women everywhere what hard work and discipline can accomplish when coupled with purpose and prayer. I am thrilled for Dallas' nomination for this most prestigious award as the Division II Honda Athlete of the Year."
All Honda Sports nominees from DII and DIII become a finalist for the prestigious 2017 Honda Woman Athlete of the Year in their respective divisions, presented in a live telecast on CBS Sports on June 26, 2017, in downtown Los Angeles. The Honda Sports nominees are recognized in 11 DII and DIII NCAA-sanctioned sports; cross country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball, and track & field.
THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for 41 years, recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.1 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions.