IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa women’s tennis senior Samantha Mannix was named All-Big Ten by the conference office on Wednesday. Junior Vipasha Mehra was also named the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree for Iowa women’s tennis.
Iowa has had one or more all-conference honorees five of the last six seasons; Elise van Heuvelen Treadwell (2017-21) and Alexa Noel (2021).
Mannix has won a team-best 10 singles matches; notching seven wins playing at No. 2, two at No. 1 and one at No. 3. The Elkhorn, Nebraska, native has recorded two victories over ranked opponents this spring, bouncing No. 81 Ashley Yeah of Illinois and No. 88 Maria Sholokhova of Wisconsin. Mannix has amassed seven doubles wins in dual meets, including four against Big Ten competition on court one.
“I am so proud of Sam being selected to the All-Big Ten Team in her final year at the University of Iowa. She has been invaluable to us in singles, doubles and as a leader her entire career. Sam has had a great season and has been instrumental in our success. I am so happy for her to receive this well-deserved honor.”
Head Coach Sasha Schmid
Mannix has been a reliable mainstay in the Hawkeye lineup for every match over the course of her five-year career. She is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree; two-time ITA Scholar Athlete; 2021 B1G Sportsmanship Award nominee and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2022. Mannix also served as ISAAC Representative from 2021-23, and in leadership on the Executive Board, 2022-23 as the Academic Success Chair.
Mannix graduated with high distinction from the University of Iowa with double major undergraduate degrees in Communication Studies and Sport & Recreation Management last May, and she earn her Masters in Sport & Recreation Management next month. She was a seven-time Dean’s List recipient and earned President’s List distinction four times.
Mehra has won six singles matches, recording two wins playing at No. 3, three at No. 4 and one at No. 5. The native of Calgary, Canada, has a team-best 10 victories in doubles competition. She won six straight doubles decisions to start the spring and has played a majority of her doubles matches on court one this spring.
Iowa (12-9, 7-4) opens play at the Big Ten Championships on Thursday. The sixth-seeded Hawkeyes will challenge 11th-seeded Indiana (14-10, 4-7) at 5 p.m. (CT) in West Lafayette, Indiana.