CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini women’s tennis head coach Evan Clark has announced that program alum Daniela Pedraza Novak will join his staff as a volunteer assistant coach. Pedraza Novak competed as a student-athlete under Clark from fall 2015 through spring 2019.

The Bogota, Colombia native was a staple in the Illini lineup across her career as she racked up a 65-43 overall singles record and 72-38 career mark in doubles play. Pedraza Novak reached a career-best doubles ranking of No. 30 during her senior campaign.

Illinois appeared in both the 2018 and 2019 NCAA Team Tournaments with Pedraza Novak on the squad. She went 3-0 in singles matches across those two postseason appearances and 2-1 on the doubles courts.

Pedraza Novak earned Academic All-Big Ten honors across her sophomore, junior and senior campaigns while earning a Bachelor of Science degree in finance. She was also tabbed an ITA Scholar-Athlete in 2018.

Since her graduation in 2019, Pedraza Novak has remained on the UIUC campus after being accepted into the doctoral program at Gies College of Business during her senior year. The four-year Illini letterwinner is currently working towards a doctorate in Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship.

Last updated Feb. 9, 2023