Eryn Cayetano from the University of Southern California, Sarah Hamner of the University of South Carolina, University of Virginia’s Emma Navarro and Peyton Stearns from the University of Texas are the four finalists for the Class of 2022 Honda Sport Award for Tennis as announced by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) today. 

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 which will be presented during the live telecast of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards Presented by Honda on CBS Sports Network on June 27, at 9 ET/6 PT.

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.  

Cayetano, a junior from Long Beach, Calif., made her debut in the 2022 NCAA Singles Championship and advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to the eventual champion. She finished the season ranked No. 3 in the ITA rankings and held the top spot from Dec., 2021 through Feb., 2022. She led USC in singles wins with 39 on the year and was named to the 2022 All-Pac 12 First Team.

Hamner was the 2022 SEC Freshman of the Year and earned All-SEC First Team honors in her rookie campaign. Hailing from Boca Raton, Fla., became South Carolina women’s tennis’ first-ever ITA All-American National Champion in singles. The rookie, who was ranked as high as No. 1 this season, finished her first year ranked No. 4 in the ITA rankings to tie the highest final ranking in program history.

Navarro is a Honda Award Finalist for Tennis in back-to-back years after earning the top seed in the 2022 NCAA singles Championship. She was the first player in UVA history to earn the top seed. The sophomore from Charleston, S.C., ranked No. 1 in ITA singles for four straight weeks to end the regular season. She is a two-time All-ACC First Team honoree and finished the season ranked No. 2.

Stearns, a sophomore from Mason, Ohio, is the 2022 NCAA Singles Champion after entering the championship ranked as the second seed and led her team to the 2022 National Championship team title winning at No. 1 singles and competing at No. 1 Doubles (DNF). The 2022 Big 12 Player of the Year was a perfect 8-0 in conference play and was named the Big 12 Championship Most Outstanding Performer after capturing the conference individual title.

The CWSA, entering its 46th year, 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.  

About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility

For more than 60 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. Honda’s mission is to create products and services that improve the lives of people while conducting its business in a sustainable manner and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Accordingly, Honda believes in helping people reach their life’s potential through its focus on improving children’s health, inspiring underrepresented students, preserving the environment for future generations, creating safety for everyone, and strengthening our communities. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.