ITA Regional Awards

​NEWARK, NJ — NJIT senior Laura Wipfli has been named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Northeast Regional Senior Player of the Year, the organization announced Tuesday.

"Laura has set the standard for what it means to be a student-athlete," said head coach Patricia Piorkowski McDonald. "This year, she was simply outstanding, compiling an incredible 20-1 record in dual matches while competing at the No. 1 singles position. She also excelled in doubles, posting an 18-6 record at the top of the lineup."

Wipfli concluded her collegiate career ranked No. 6 in the ITA Northeast Region singles rankings following a stellar senior campaign. She earned Big South First Team Singles and Big South First Team Doubles honors while being named Big South Women's Tennis Player of the Week three times.

Her consistent success against elite competition included victories over standout opponents from Rutgers, Penn State and Drexel.

During the regular season, Wipfli compiled a 20-1 dual-match singles record, highlighted by a 12-match winning streak from Jan. 24 through March 6. She also went undefeated at No. 1 singles (3-0) during the 2026 Big South Women's Tennis Championship and added two doubles victories to help lead NJIT to the conference championship match. Wipfli finished the year with an overall singles record of 23-5.

In doubles play, Wipfli and Irene Cocero finished their careers ranked No. 7 in the Northeast Region. The duo posted a 16-6 regular-season record and put together a 12-match winning streak from Feb. 7 through April 4. They added two victories during the Big South Championship to finish the season with an 18-6 overall doubles mark.

Wipfli and Cocero appeared in the ITA Northeast Region doubles rankings in each of the past three seasons, cementing their place among the most accomplished doubles teams in program history.

Away from the court, Wipfli exemplified excellence in the classroom. She maintained an impressive 3.95 GPA while competing at the highest level of collegiate tennis, demonstrating the discipline, dedication and character that define the student-athlete experience.

Her academic achievements earned her selection to the Big South All-Academic Team and the CSC Academic All-District Team. Wipfli graduated on May 22 with a degree in business.

A dominant competitor, respected leader and exceptional teammate, Wipfli leaves her mark at NJIT as one of the most accomplished student-athletes in program history.

Piorkowski McDonald added, "Beyond the numbers, Laura's professionalism, composure and competitive maturity consistently stood out. She approaches every match with confidence, poise and respect for the game, serving as an outstanding representative of our program. Her leadership, work ethic and commitment to excellence elevated everyone around her, while her academic achievements and dedication to her teammates exemplify the qualities this award is meant to recognize. Being named the ITA Regional Senior Player of the Year is a well-deserved honor and a reflection of the remarkable season and career she built at NJIT. She was an absolute pleasure to coach."