Ostermann Named Central Region Senior Player of the Year

Gitte Ostermann continued racking up the honors as she was selected as the ITA Senior Player of the Year for the Central Region, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced Monday on its website. A native of Luneburg, Germany, Ostermann was one of eight regional winners and is a candidate for the national award.

"Gitte won the Central Region Player-of-the-Year award after an amazing senior season," Coach Scott Jacobson said. "I don't think this should come as a surprise to anyone because of the way she has played all year. It is a tribute to her hard work and the type of year she had, helping us to the first tournament appearance for our team."

Ostermann helped Nebraska to an 18-4 record this spring, including a Big 12-era best 9-2 record in conference play. The Huskers finished third in the Big 12 regular-season standings while earning a spot in the national rankings for 15 weeks, including the last 11 weeks in the top 40. Nebraska earned its highest ranking in program history on March 29 when it reached No. 30 in the ITA rankings, a spot it held for two weeks. More recently, the Huskers made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament where they fell to No. 22 South Carolina.

Ostermann also picked up the highest individual ranking in program history when she was ranked No. 18 nationally on Feb. 22. She has been ranked in the top 45 all year long and currently rests at No. 43 heading into the NCAA Singles Tournament, which begins May 18 in Athens, Ga. Ostermann is the first player in NU history to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships in consecutive years.

After winning her first 10 matches of the spring, Ostermann has cruised to a 17-3 overall mark, all at the No. 1 singles position. Ostermann was an All-Big 12 selection in singles play for the third straight season and earned all-league honors in doubles action with teammate Katie Garcia. Ostermann and Garcia went 14-5 at the No. 1 doubles slot this spring.

Ostermann, who won the ITA Central Regional singles title in the fall, has cracked the Nebraska record book this spring. Ostermann now owns 121 career combined wins (individual and doubles) to tie for fourth on the NU chart with Lisa Hart.