GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman women's tennis star Katarina Kozarov has been honored as a 2020 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division I All-American, as announced by the organization today. Twenty singles players and ten doubles teams earned the distinction, which was based on an unpublished, double run of the national rankings.
The two-time reigning SoCon Player of the Year, Kozarov, a native of Novi Sad, Serbia, becomes just the second All-American in the history of the Furman women's tennis program, joining Laura Gioia, who was honored as an All-American in 2009.
"This is a goal we have been working toward for years, and it is so exciting to see Katarina earn this honor, especially with how well she has represented our program on and off the court over the past four years," said Furman head coach Adam Herendeen. "She is the definition of "one day better" and our Furman Family is thrilled for her!"
Kozarov, who rose as high as 13th in this year's national singles rankings, recorded a 10-1 record at flight one during the shortened spring season. She defeated three ranked opponents in January, and all but two of her spring wins came in straight sets. Kozarov posted an 8-5 record in fall competition, highlighted by a 7-6(6), 6-3 win over seventh-ranked Kelly Chen of Duke at the Debbie Southern Fall Classic in September.
At the ITA All-American Championships in Tulsa last fall, she scored four consecutive wins to reach the consolation finals, clinching an automatic entry into the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships. Kozarov came from behind in the semifinals, winning 11 of the last 12 games, to beat No. 40 Valeriya Zeleva of UCF, 7-5, 6-1. Kozarov downed then 20th-ranked Asuka Kawai of Illinois, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, and No. 87 Martina Cappuro of Oklahoma, 6-4, 6-4, to reach the semifinals. Earlier in the week, she defeated No. 50 Jessica Failla of Pepperdine, 7-6, 7-6. In the first round of the national fall championships, Kozarov topped No. 76 Rebeka Mertena of Tennessee, 7-5, 6-0.
Of Kozarov's five fall losses, all were to ranked opponents, including three to the nation's top three players. Two of those, a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 loss to top-ranked Ashley Lahey of Pepperdine, and a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 loss against No. 3 Estela Perez-Somarriba of Miami, came in three sets.
Kozarov garnered the C. Dan Joyner Outstanding Female Athletic Leader Award for positively impacting her teams as a role model, resource, motivator, and encourager.
