JONESBORO, Ark. (6/16/26) – Arkansas State women's tennis senior Sarah Millard was named the recipient of the ITA Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award as announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association in its Division I Women's National Award Winners on Tuesday.
 
The Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award recognizes a Division I women's student-athlete who displays inspiring dedication and commitment to her team, which has enhanced her team's performance and exemplified the spirit of college tennis. The award dates back to 1997 and is in memory of the late and widely admired Penn women's tennis coach Cissie Leary.
 
"This award is a testament to the kind of person Sarah is," head coach Sujay Lama said. "Her character, her resilience, and her commitment to doing things the right way set her apart. She reminds us that greatness isn't just about performance—it's about how you impact others and handle life's ups and downs. This is a proud moment that places Arkansas State tennis on the national map and reinforces the standard we strive to live every day."
 
An Arkansas State University graduate of Spring 2026, Millard earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology. This fall, she begins her pursuit for a Doctorate of Occupational Therapy while transitioning to a graduate assistant coach with A-State tennis.
 
A four-year letterwinner for the Red Wolves, Millard helped lead A-State to its first postseason appearance in program history and the UTR NIT Championship. A recipient of the Sun Belt Conference Postgraduate Scholarship, Millard closed out her senior season with a 15-7 head-to-head singles record and a 15-14 record in doubles. Over her career, she totaled 41 victories in singles and 48 in doubles. Across her four seasons, she played a key role in elevating the program's success, helping A-State increase its win total from two in 2023 to 16 in 2026 – the program's highest single-season total since 2002.
 
Millard is the first A-State women's tennis player to earn the Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award and the first to do so from the Sun Belt Conference. She is just the sixth player from a non-autonomy school to earn the honor in its 30-year history, and the first since Western Carolina's Jordan Strickland in 2020. She was named the ITA Central Region recipient of the Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award and the Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award.

ITA Division I Women's National Award Winners:
ITA/Dunlop Coach of the Year: Mark Weaver (Texas A&M)
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year: David Secker (NC State)
ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award: Reese Brantmeier (North Carolina)
ITA Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award: Sarah Millard (Arkansas State)
ITA Most Improved Player: Savannah Dada-Mascoll (Appalachian State)
ITA Player to Watch: Lucciana Perez (Texas A&M)
ITA Rookie of the Year: Victoria Osuigwe (NC State)
ITA Senior Player of the Year: Reese Brantmeier (North Carolina)