ELON, N.C. – Elon University women's tennis graduate, Lizette Reding has been named the Carolina Regional ITA Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award winner as announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association on Thursday, June 13.
 
The ITA/Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship goes to a Division I women's player who displays inspiring dedication and commitment to her team, which has enhanced her team's performance and exemplified the spirit of college tennis. It dates back to 1997 and is in memory of the late and widely admired Penn women's tennis coach Cissie Leary.
 
Reding was not only successful on the court this season but also was involved in many groups outside of tennis.
 
"The concern for others led me to join two important groups at Elon," Reding said. "First, I volunteered for a mentoring program for pre-teen girls, where I served as a role model, focusing on their physical, social, and mental well-being. It was a rewarding experience building a strong mentor-mentee relationship."
 
"I also volunteered at the H.O.P.E. clinic, part of Elon's physical therapy school, serving as an interpreter for Spanish-speaking patients. It was fulfilling to facilitate communication between healthcare providers and patients, ensuring they received quality treatment."
 
Since graduating, Reding plans to attend physical therapy school to continue to help people around her.
 
"I want to contribute to the healthcare system by providing quality care to those with language barriers," she said.