Newport, RI – For the second straight academic year, Vassar College rising senior
Erin McCusker (Norton, MA) has earned the USTA's Rhode Island's Jill Craybas Award, given to the top collegiate player who graduated from a Rhode Island Secondary School.
The Jill Craybas award is given annually to the top female player who graduated from a Rhode Island Secondary School and played for their school team. While playing for LaSalle Academy in Providence, McCusker was a four-time First Team All-State selection and was the Rhode Island State singles champion as a senior. McCusker's teams at LaSalle won four straight state titles.
McCusker earns the honor for the second straight season after continuing a standout career for the Brewers in 2024-25, culminating in the 2025 Liberty League Championship and berth into the NCAA Tournament.
Playing out of the top singles and doubles flights, McCusker earned First Team All-Liberty League honors for Vassar. In singles play, McCusker was voted First Team All-League for the third straight season after posting a 10-6 record. While teaming with
Sofie Shen (New York, NY) at the top doubles position, the Brewers' top pair posted a 7-6 record for the Brewers.
In the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, a convincing 4-0 win over Hunter, McCusker teamed with Shen for a 6-0 doubles victory and held a 6-0, 3-2 advantage in singles play when they match was concluded. In the Second Round against #10 Amherst, McCusker and Shen led the Mammoths' top pair 4-2 when the doubles point was clinched and in singles action was locked in a tight 6-2, 2-6, 5-5 contest when the match was decided.
Vassar finished the 2024-25 season with a 15-6 overall record, winning the program's first Liberty League title since 2010 and advancing to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time in program history.
About the Jill Craybas Award: A native of East Greenwich, Craybas is the most successful tennis player in Rhode Island history. She was a RIISL high school state singles champion for the Lincoln School and captured the 1996 NCAA singles championship for the University of Florida, when she was the National College Player of the Year. She is the only player in NCAA history to be a member of Division I championship teams at two different schools (Texas and Florida). A two-time SEC Player of the Year, she finished her college career with a 124-18 record. A Florida Gator Hall of Famer, she played nearly 20 years on the WTA Tour. She won the 2002 Japan Open and five doubles titles on the main tour. She was ranked as high as #3 in the US and #41 in the world. A regular for the US Fed Cup team. Her most notable result came at Wimbledon in 2005, where she defeated Serena Williams and Marion Bartoli.
