Posted: May 14, 2026

Three Earn ITA Regional Recognition

split image of male tennis coach talking with action images of two women's tennis players

(TEMPE, Ariz.) - Two members of the Carnegie Mellon University women's tennis team and head coach Andrew Girard are recipients of regional awards from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). Every year the ITA recognizes coaches and student-athletes for their excellence both on the court and in their communities throughout the season. Senior Anika Joshi and freshman Ika Kanumuri join Girard as honorees.

Joshi was named the recipient of the Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship award while Kanumuri was named the Rookie of the Year for the Atlantic South Region. Girard was named the ITA/Dunlop Coach of the Year, garnering the recognition for the fourth time as the leader of the women's program.

Joshi is the fifth Tartan to receive the Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship award. The senior has been a consistent contributor to a nationally-ranked Tartans program for four years, compiling a 57-28 singles record with a 47-28 doubles record. She ranks among the top 25 players in program history and has delivered in critical moments, including a pivotal doubles victory at the 2024 University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship that helped secure the team's qualification to the NCAA Tournament that year.

"What distinguishes Anika most is her leadership through empathy, reliability, and a deep commitment to others," said Girard. "She is one of the most naturally kind and thoughtful student-athletes I have coached, consistently supporting teammates and helping to create a team culture rooted in trust and accountability."

Beyond athletics, Joshi has demonstrated a strong commitment to service and community impact. Through Carnegie Mellon's Community Engagement Fellowship, she partnered with local organizations to support initiatives related to transportation equity and early childhood education. On campus, Joshi serves as a Resident Advisor, mentoring and supporting students while excelling academically in statistics and machine learning.

Kanumuri is the sixth ITA Atlantic South Rookie of the Year, and follows sophomore teammate Shelly Zinchenko with the distinction. The first-year Tartan is currently ranked 23rd in the nation in singles and seventh in doubles. She was recently named the UAA Rookie of the Year and has a 27-9 singles record to go with a 23-12 doubles mark. Kamurmuri was selected to compete at the 2026 NCAA Singles and Doubles Championship in both singles and doubles, while she advanced to the semifinals of the singles bracket at the ITA Cup in the fall.

Girard has led the Tartans to the program's 20th NCAA Championship appearance and a 19-7 record. The eighth-ranked Tartans defeated fifth-ranked Johns Hopkins University to advance to the quarterfinals, marking the program's eighth trip to the finals site. The Tartans have 12 wins against nationally-ranked teams this season with a primary lineup consisting of one senior, five sophomores and two freshmen.