New Coach Tabbed to Lead SU Tennis Programs

Kristina Hollander has been named Seattle University’s head coach for men’s and women’s tennis.
 
A graduate of UNLV and one of the top tennis players in Mountain West Conference history, Hollander takes over following two seasons as an assistant coach at San Jose State. She was also a professor in the San Jose State Kinesiology department.
 
“We are excited to welcome Kristina Hollander to the Redhawk family,” says Shaney Fink, director of athletics. “She is an exceptional teacher of the game and dedicated to the holistic development of student athletes. Kristina exemplifies the values of Seattle U and is a wonderful role model for all of our student athletes.”
 
Hollander joined the Spartan coaching staff in August 2018 after serving as the head tennis professional for a major hotel chain in Puerto Rico. She has also held professional tennis positions in Nevada and Connecticut.
 
“I am extremely excited and honored to join the family of Seattle University,” Hollander says. “Being the head coach for both the men’s and women’s tennis teams is a great privilege and I am truly happy to jump on board. I am looking forward to working with the amazing student athletes, as well as the school’s wonderful staff. My love for the sport, commitment to others and competitiveness are qualities that have helped me get to where I am today. I can’t wait to share them with the team members as well as everyone else at SU.”
 
A four-year letter winner at UNLV, Hollander was the second Mountain West Conference women'’ tennis player in history to be named All-Conference in singles and doubles each of four seasons.
 
Playing as Kristina Nedeltcheva, she was a nationally ranked Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) singles and doubles player and the 2010 ITA Mountain Region Senior of the Year during her collegiate career. She competed in the 2007 and 2008 NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis Championships in doubles and the 2010 NCAA Championship as a singles entry.
 
“Kristina is an outstanding competitor, as is evident from her remarkable playing career,” says Fink. “That, along with her energy and enthusiasm, make her a great fit for our department and university as a whole.”