Smaranda Stan Named ITA Cissie Leary Regional Award Winner

Stan is one of eight regional winners for the ITA’s sportsmanship award

Smaranda Stan

BUFFALO, NY – Senior Smaranda Stan added to her impressive four-year career on Monday afternoon as she was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Cissie Leary Award Winner for Sportsmanship for the East Region. Stan is one of eight regional winners who are now in the running for the national award. The Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship goes to a women’s player who displays inspiring dedication and commitment to her team, which has enhanced her team’s performance and exemplified the spirit of college tennis.

Stan, who was the lone senior on the women’s tennis team, was named to the All-MAC Second Team following a season where she finished second on the team in singles victories. She had a 22-8 record and finished her career second all-time in school history for singles victories. Following the season, Stan was also given the team’s FIRE award for her dedication to the team on and off the court.

In 2008 Stan was named Most Valuable Player of the MAC Championships as she clinched all three matches en route to UB’s first ever MAC Title. The Cissie Leary Award was never more evident than it was during that tournament as she willed her way through three-set matches in all three competitions. More than that, she dropped the first set all three times, but still showed commitment to her team and the dedication it takes to come back and helped lead UB to a championship.

Stan brought that same energy into this season as she again fought her way through many three-set matches on her way to her 22 victories. Stan’s All-MAC honor was the first of her career.

Stan graduated from Buffalo this past weekend with a degree in Management and International Studies.

ITA/Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship
East-Smaranda Stan, Buffalo
Southeast-Austin Smith, University of North Carolina
South-Lauren Macfarlane, Florida State University
Midwest-Kirsten Pahl, Western Michigan University
Central-Klaudia Wlodarczyk, Boise State University
Southwest-Sarah Lancaster, Texas
Northwest-Ekaterina Kamendova, Washington State
West-Erynne Oki, UC Riverside