Walker to Coach Collegiate National Team
6/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
FORT WORTH, Texas - For the third year in a row, TCU women's tennis head coach Lee Taylor Walker has been selected to coach the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Women's Collegiate National Team.
The USTA Women's Collegiate National Team is comprised of six individuals that qualify based on their accomplishments during the fall and spring seasons, while playing for their respective schools. This year's team was open to freshmen through seniors who met at least one of the following criteria: NCAA singles champion; highest-ranked American in the ITA's final singles rankings; ITA Rookie of the Year; ITA All-American singles champion; USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships singles champion; Top 400 from September through April.
"I'm very fortunate to be a part of this team again and it is a great learning experience for me to work with such quality coaches and players," Walker said. "Dustin Taylor (Virginia men's tennis assistant coach) and West Nott (USC women's tennis associate head coach) taught me a lot the last two summers, and this year I have already learned a ton from the new National Collegiate Team Head Coach, Stephen Amritraj. For our TCU program, it helps me keep a fresh pulse on the level of talent and professionalism needed to play at the top of college and pro level.
"This team is something all top collegiate players aspire to, and it's our hope that some of our very own make this team in the coming years. We want to be a place where players feel they have a real, true shot of transitioning from college tennis to Grand Slam professional tennis. Therefore, it's important that we have a very thorough understanding of the ITF and WTA professional tours and there is no better way for a college coach than to be a part of this team. I am very grateful to Stephen Amritraj and the USTA for this opportunity."
Walker will travel around the state of Texas coaching some of the top American collegiate players in the months of July and August. Walker will begin by traveling with the team to Austin for the Women's Pro Tennis Open of Austin from July 27-August 2. Walker will then return to Fort Worth and welcome the team to the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center for the Fort Worth Pro Tennis Classic from August 1-9.
Walker will coach the team with Princeton head coach Laura Granville, Davidson head coach Sara Anundsen and Columbia assistant coach Riza Zalameda. The three coaches will assist USTA National Coach Stephen Amritraj, who is in charge of the USTA Collegiate National Team for USTA Player Development.
