PRINCETON, N.J. — For just the sixth time in Ivy League women's tennis history, the league’s Player and Rookie of the Year awards were won by the same player. This year, those honors were taken by Penn’s standout first year, Esha Velaga, while the 2024 Ivy League Coach of the Year was won by Princeton’s Jamea Jackson.

Velaga, who was unanimously named the 2024 Rookie of the Year while also earning Player of the Year honors, assumed the top spot in the Penn lineup and played number one for all but two matches, making an instant impact in the Quaker lineup. She posted a 29-6 overall record, going 15-3 in dual matches and a perfect 5-0 in Ivy League matches, and also won the ITA Northeast Super Regional singles crown back in the Fall. In doubles, Velaga went 11-8 overall and 3-3 in Ivy League play, playing with five different partners at both second and third doubles.

Jamea Jackson, in just her second season at the helm of Princeton, was named Coach of the Year after guiding the Tigers to their 13^th outright Ivy League Championship, and 18^th championship overall. Jackson has now won back-to-back Ivy League Championships at Princeton, continuing the level of success experienced by the Tigers over the last decade, leading the Tigers to their fifth-straight Ivy League Championship and eighth in the last nine years. The Tigers earned the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and will take on Washington in the opening round.

Velega was a unanimous selection for the All-Ivy Singles First Team, as was Harvard’s Holly Fischer. Overall, five Ivy League members were represented on the All-Ivy Singles First Team, with Penn being represented by both Velaga and Sabine Rutlauka. Brown’s Phoebe Peus, Princeton’s Neha Velaga, and Yale’s Orly Ogilvy rounded out the All-Ivy Singles First Team.

The doubles teams of Rutlauka and Eileen Wang from Penn, Columbia’s Anna Zhang and Sophia Wang, and Dartmouth’s Lexi Dewire and Elizabeth Fahrmeier were named to the All-Ivy Doubles First Team.

In all, Harvard, Penn, Columbia, and Yale tied for most All-Ivy Team selections with three each, Brown, Princeton, and Dartmouth had two apiece, and Cornell rounded out the 19 All-Ivy Team honorees with one representative.

Additionally, one student-athlete from each institution was recognized for their commitment in the classroom and on the court as members of the 2023-24 Ivy League Women's Tennis Academic All-Ivy team. Brown’s Olivia Mariotti, Columbia's Rachele Rimondini, Cornell’s Lauren Stein, Dartmouth's Lexi Dewire, Harvard’s Holly Fischer, Penn's Eileen Wang, Princeton’s Maia Sung and Yale's Jamie Kim were each named to the team.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Esha Velaga, Penn
 
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Esha Velaga, Penn*
 
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jamea Jackson, Princeton
 
SINGLES FIRST TEAM ALL-IVY
Holly Fischer, Harvard*
Esha Velaga, Penn*
Phoebe Peus, Brown
Sabine Rutlauka, Penn
Neha Velaga, Princeton
Orly Ogilvy, Yale
 
DOUBLES FIRST TEAM ALL-IVY
Sabine Rutlauka/Eileen Wang, Penn
Anna Zhang/Sophia Wang, Columbia
Lexi Dewire/Elizabeth Fahrmeier, Dartmouth
 
SINGLES SECOND TEAM ALL-IVY
Peyton Capuano, Dartmouth
Stephanie Yakoff, Harvard
Lauren Stein, Cornell
Mirabelle Brettkelly, Yale
Fatima Keita, Columbia
Maia Sung, Princeton
 
DOUBLES SECOND TEAM ALL-IVY^
Holly Fischer/Stephanie Yakoff, Harvard
Phoebe Peus/Lindsey Hofflander, Brown
Gayathri Krishnan/Sophia Strugnell, Columbia
Orly Ogilvy/Ann Wright Guerry, Yale
 
* Unanimous selection
^ Team expanded due to ties in voting