SPOKANE, Wash. – Gonzaga women's tennis added assistant coach Natalie Pluskota-Hamberg, head coach
D.J. Gurule announced on Wednesday. Pluskota-Hamberg was previously an assistant on Gurule's staff for two seasons from 2016-18.
"We are so fortunate to have Natalie back with the Gonzaga family," Gurule said. "She was so integral in building the foundation of our program, and I know she will be a driving force for all the new additions to our program. Natalie's experience, both as a player and a coach, are invaluable to our program. We are very excited about the future of this program, and know that Natalie will have an immediate positive influence on the team."
Pluskota-Hamberg returns to GU after one season at Arkansas, where the Razorbacks went 14-14, including an SEC Tournament win over then-No. 14 Missouri in the first round. She helped coach Martina Zerulo to All-SEC First Team honors and lead seven Razorbacks to ITA All-Academic Team honors.
"I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Zag family again," Pluskota-Hamberg said. "Gonzaga holds a special place in my heart, and I am excited to challenge and develop our student-athletes both on and off the court. Go Zags!"
During the 2017-18 season with the Zags, Pluskota-Hamberg was instrumental in helping the program to a second-place finish in the West Coast Conference for the second straight year with a 16-7 overall record. For her efforts, she was named the tasc Performance ITA Assistant Coach of the Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
Under the development of Pluskota-Hamberg,
Sophie Whittle earned All-WCC first-team honors in singles and doubles with partner
Graciela Rosas.
Nevada Apollo earned second-team honors in singles, and the doubles pair of
Haruna Tsuruta and
Alex Bourguignon were named All-WCC Honorable Mention.
Her first season was the most successful in Gonzaga history. Pluskota-Hamberg helped lead the Zags to a program-best 17-4 record in 2017, reaching the West Coast Conference Championships final for the first time in school history. During the regular season, the Zags finished second in the conference, and they ended the year with a fifth-place ranking in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Northwest Regional rankings, another program high.
Pluskota-Hamberg helped four Zag individuals or doubles teams earned All-WCC honors, including a pair of First Team – Singles players in Whittle and Apollo. Both finished the year in the ITA's Northwest Singles ranking as well.
Pluskota-Hamberg came to Spokane after a four-year pro career and two years of teaching experience. She served as a tennis professional at Bridgehampton Tennis and Surf Club in Bridgehampton, New York. There, she gave lessons to members and oversaw children's summer tennis camps. Pluskota-Hamberg also served as a volunteer assistant coach at Oklahoma State for the 2015 dual season, helping lead the Cowgirls to a 23-6 record and a spot in the NCAA Tournament's Round of 16.
During her professional career, Pluskota-Hamberg saw particular success on the doubles court, reaching a No. 157 world ranking and claiming four pairs titles. She won the $10,000 Evansville (Indiana) Tournament in 2014 while adding wins in Rock Hill, South Carolina; Phoenix; and Atlanta. In singles play, she was a finalist in a $25,000 tournament at Landisville, Pennsylvania, reaching a world ranking of 478.
In college at the University of Tennessee, Pluskota-Hamberg earned four All-America honors, being recognized for her doubles play in 2009, 2010, and 2012, and singles play in 2012. She reached three NCAA Doubles Tournament semifinals, reaching the championship match in 2010. Additionally, she earned three All-SEC First Team or Second Team awards along with Freshman All-SEC Team honors in 2009. She won four doubles titles in college, including the 2011 ITA Ohio Valley Regional and the 2010 ITA All-American Tournament.
