Women’s Tennis Announces Signing of Candy Wai for 2024-25
1/6/2025 3:20:00 PM | Women's Tennis
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty women's tennis team and head coach Dash Connell have announced the addition of Yee Ching "Candy" Wai to the 2024-25 roster. Wai, currently attending Tyler Junior College, was recently honored as the ITA 2024 JUCO Women's Tennis Rookie of the Year playing under Connell in the 2023-24 season.
"We are thrilled to have Candy join our group next fall! She brings a lot of experience as a national champion in doubles last spring and a national champion in singles this past fall," Connell said. "Most importantly, she brings a character and work ethic that matches what we are doing at Liberty."
As a freshman at Tyler Junior College under Connell, Wai played in the No. 1 doubles and No. 2 singles positions. She posted a 16-9 singles mark along with a 20-6 doubles record. Wai finished in fourth place at the Fall ITA Cup in 2023 and third in doubles. She helped lead the Apaches to a third-place finish at the 2024 NJCAA Women's Nationals. Wai was named to the NJCAA Singles and Doubles All-American first teams at the championship.
Following her stellar freshman campaign, Wai was awarded the 2024 JUCO (junior college) Women's Tennis ITA Rookie of the Year.
Connell was announced as the Liberty Women's Tennis head coach this summer following 14 seasons at Tyler Junior College. In his last season with the Apaches, Connell worked with Wai in her freshman season.
Wai, a native of Hong Kong, China, entered the 2024 ITA Cup as the event's No. 1 seed in October. Wai secured the Women's Singles Championship title with a 3-0 record at the tournament.
Liberty prepares to open its spring season with a home doubleheader on Jan. 17 taking on Elon and Longwood at the Liberty Indoor Tennis Center.
"We are thrilled to have Candy join our group next fall! She brings a lot of experience as a national champion in doubles last spring and a national champion in singles this past fall," Connell said. "Most importantly, she brings a character and work ethic that matches what we are doing at Liberty."
As a freshman at Tyler Junior College under Connell, Wai played in the No. 1 doubles and No. 2 singles positions. She posted a 16-9 singles mark along with a 20-6 doubles record. Wai finished in fourth place at the Fall ITA Cup in 2023 and third in doubles. She helped lead the Apaches to a third-place finish at the 2024 NJCAA Women's Nationals. Wai was named to the NJCAA Singles and Doubles All-American first teams at the championship.
Following her stellar freshman campaign, Wai was awarded the 2024 JUCO (junior college) Women's Tennis ITA Rookie of the Year.
Connell was announced as the Liberty Women's Tennis head coach this summer following 14 seasons at Tyler Junior College. In his last season with the Apaches, Connell worked with Wai in her freshman season.
Wai, a native of Hong Kong, China, entered the 2024 ITA Cup as the event's No. 1 seed in October. Wai secured the Women's Singles Championship title with a 3-0 record at the tournament.
Liberty prepares to open its spring season with a home doubleheader on Jan. 17 taking on Elon and Longwood at the Liberty Indoor Tennis Center.
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