Clayton State’s Nieto & Collantes Named
ITA Division II Tennis All-Americas
June 6, 2003
MORROW, Ga. - Clayton College & State University’s Jackeline Nieto became the school’s first two-time All-America earlier this week as she and fellow teammate Nathalia Collantes both received the honor by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
Nieto, ranked 14th in the country in singles, has an opportunity to become a three-time All-America next season, while Collantes received the honor for the first time, as she and Nieto finished the season ranked fifth in the nation in doubles. Players are named All-America by finishing the season as either one of the top 20 singles players in the nation or a top 10 doubles team.
“I am extremely happy for both Jacky and Nathalia,” said third-year head coach Elizabeth Nieto. “They both have been an integral part in the building our program and a big reason for our success the last three seasons.”
Juniors Nieto and Collantes, the No. 1 and No. 2 singles players on Clayton State’s team the last two years, were also named to the Peach Belt All-Conference team in singles and as a doubles tandem. They have helped lead the Lakers to a Peach Belt Conference championship and a runner-up finish in two of the last three years.
Nieto’s top victories this season came against GC&SU’s Luiza Biktyakova, defeating the nation's 15th-ranked player twice. She beat her 4-6; 6-3; 6-2 during the regular season and then 6-4 and 6-2 in the PBC Tournament.
A native of Caracas, Venzeula, Nieto received the 2002 ITA National Player to Watch Award, leading the Lakers to a 10th place national ranking and their first-ever berth in the Division II NCAA Championships in 2002.
In doubles, Nieto and Collantes sported a 16-2 overall record and won 13 straight matches to close the season. The duo’s top victories came against GC&SU's Luiza Biktyakova and Paavilainen, who were once ranked second in the country in doubles. The Clayton State duo defeated the highly touted GC&SU duo 8-5 during the regular season and 9-7 in the PBC Tournament.
They also had victories over Valdosta State's Eva Petschnig and Annika Biro, the 11th-ranked team, 8-2; and Rollins' Vanessa Caddick and Prieto, the eighth-ranked team, 8-4. Nieto and Collantes have a 56-17 overall record, Clayton State’s all-time best in doubles play.
Collantes, from Bucaramanga, Colombia, has a career 58-14 record in singles play, the school’s best all-time singles mark. She finished the regular season with a perfect 16-0 record in singles play, knocking off several of the country’s top-ranked players.
Ranked 27th in singles, she had victories over Georgia College & State University’s Mia Paavilainen 7-5; 7-6; Division II’s 29th-ranked player; and Rollins College’s Carla Prieto, the 42nd-ranked player, 4-6; 6-3; 10-8. She also defeated Emory University's Margaret Moscarto, Division III's 34th-ranked player and a member of Emory’s 2003 National Championship team; 7-5 and 6-2.
With Collantes and Nieto being named All-America, it is the 11th time a Clayton State athlete has received All-America honors. Women’s basketball player Catreia Shaw (Pearson, GA) was also an All-America selection this year.
Other CCSU athletes named to All-America teams are: Stacy Washington, men’s soccer, 1992; Adrian Drury, men’s soccer, 1996; Robert Conley, men’s basketball, 1998-99; Adam Short, men’s golf, 1998-99; Dave Kelly, men’s golf, 1998-99; Josh Grenier, men’s soccer, 2000; and Joni Guffey, track & field, 2002.
