NCAA Division III Championship Website

Chattanooga, Tenn. - University of Wisconsin-La Crosse junior Kimberly Steinert of Oshkosh (West) fell 6-2, 6-0 to Kathy Joseph from the University of Texas at Dallas in the Round of 32 on Friday at the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Individual Tennis Championships at Champions Tennis Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee. 

Steinert, one of 32 singles players to earn a bid to the national championships, finishes the season at 13-2 while Joseph improves to 13-2 and advances to the round of 16 on Friday afternoon. The championships are being hosted by the University of the South and Chattanooga Sports.
 

The NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Committee selected a percentage of singles players and doubles teams from each of the four regions for the individual championships.  The individual championships consist of 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams.  The selection was based on won-lost record, strength of schedule and eligibility and availability of student-athletes.

Steinert went 13-1 at No. 1 singles this year, recording 13 consecutive victories after a season-opening loss on March 6.  She won all 13 of her matches in straight sets, including four without losing a game.  Steinert has won six other matches while dropping only one game.

Named the 2020-21 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Player of the Year, Steinert went 6-0 in WIAC matches this season and was selected the league's singles player of the week from April 5-11 after winning three conference matches.  Steinert was named to this year's All-WIAC Sportsmanship Team for the second straight season.  She is 40-15 in her three singles career. 

Steinert is the second player in school history to be recognized as the WIAC Player of the Year, joining Bridget Bellissimo who earned the honor in 2017-18.  Steinert was also selected to the 2020-21 All-WIAC First Team at No. 1 singles and earned All-WIAC First Team accolades at No. 1 doubles with sophomore Kellie Hierl of Fond du Lac (H.S.).  Steinert and Hierl finished 12-3 at No. 1 doubles this season, including 4-2 in the WIAC. 

Steinert earned 2019 All-WIAC Second Team honors at No. 1 singles while also being named to the league's all-sportsmanship team.