AUSTIN, Texas — University of Texas Women’s Tennis sophomore Peyton Stearns has been named one of four finalists for the Class of 2022 Honda Sport Award for Tennis, THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) announced today. Stearns is joined on the list of finalists by Erin Cayetano (USC), Sarah Hamner (South Carolina) and Emma Navarro (Virginia).
The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 46 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics.” The winner of the sport award becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2022 Honda Cup. The Honda Cup will be presented during the live telecast of the Collegiate Women Sports Award Presented by Honda on CBS Sports Network on June 27 at 8 p.m. Central.
The tennis finalists were determined by final rankings and NCAA competition. The Honda Sport Award winner for Tennis will be announced later this week after voting by administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Each NCAA member institution has a vote.
Stearns was named the ITA National Player of the Year earlier today, an honor given annually to the Men’s and Women’s players who end the season ranked No. 1 in the final National Singles rankings. After leading Texas to its second-straight NCAA team title this year, she became the first player in program history to win the NCAA Singles championship and concluded the season with a 33-2 overall record in singles play.
Stearns paired with partner Allura Zamarripa on the doubles court and earned ITA Doubles All-America honors this season. The duo advanced to the NCAA Doubles quarterfinals and was No. 10 in the final ITA National Doubles rankings. Stearns also was tabbed the 2022 Big 12 Player of the Year, the Big 12 Championship Most Outstanding Player and the Big 12 Individual Champion at No. 1 Singles.
Currently in its 46th year, the CWSA has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs.
The Longhorns posted a 26-4 dual-match record during the 2022 season and captured their second-straight and fourth NCAA team title in program history with a 4-1 victory against Oklahoma in the championship match on May 22. Texas previously won NCAA Championships in 1993, 1995 and 2021. The Longhorns joined Stanford and Florida as the only schools to repeat as NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis national champions since 1982.
