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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Sadie Hammond, a resident of Belgrade, Maine, a senior at the University of Tennessee, was named a Division I doubles All-America recently, along with teammate, sophomore Kaitlin Staines.
The duo, seeded eighth, will compete in the 32-team NCAA doubles bracket from May 20-25 at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla., after the conclusion of the NCAA team championship.
“To do what Sadie and Staines did, playing at the top spot in our conference and consistently winning at the high level that they won at is really impressive,” said assistant coach Ty Schaub. “I’m so proud of them for what they accomplished this season. This All-America honor is a huge testament to all of the work they put in all year long.”
Over the course of the spring, the duo compiled a record of 18-3 at the No. 1 doubles spot. Including fall competition, Hammond and Staines posted an overall record of 24-3, including six ranked wins.
During the season, Hammond and Staines ascended as high as No. 6 in the ITA rankings – the highest rank by a Tennessee doubles team since the 2013 season’s final rankings, when Kata Szekely and Brynn Boren came in at No. 5 in the nation. That season, Szekely and Boren were also named All-Americans.
Before this season, the pair had never competed in doubles together.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be selected as All-American in doubles, especially to do it with Kaitlin,” Hammond said. “For Kaitlin to achieve this as a sophomore is incredible and a huge testament to her hard work.
“This season has been so special and I’m so grateful for all the fun we have had, as well as to be rewarded in this way. We still have so much to accomplish and I’m so grateful we have a few more weeks to compete. Being an All-American has been a goal of mine since my freshman year. I’m so happy to receive this honor and be a part of the people on our wall in Goodfriend Tennis Center.”
Added Staines: “I can’t believe that it happened. Our goal right from the start of the year was to get our banner on the wall. We have worked so hard every single day and we can’t believe it’s actually happening.
“I’m so happy that I was able to do it alongside my best friend. Sadie has been on fire all year and I have had so much fun playing with her. This means so much to us and we couldn’t have done it without our team, Alison, Ty, Euan and coach Roll. There are exciting things to come for our team.”
Hammond was also named to the all-SEC team. Before college, she attended The Laurel School in Ohio.
PHOTO: Sadie Hammond, of Belgrade, a senior at the University of Tennesee, was named a Division I All-America in tennis recently. (University of Tennessee photo)
