Hollander joins the tennis staff after years of experience as both a high caliber player and coach. This is her first year with the Queens tennis program.
Coming from Jacksonville, Fla., Hollander worked with the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation this past year. There she mentored and coached athletes with not only their performance on the court, but also with their academic success. While at the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation, Hollander leveraged tennis as a means to enhance a player’s education, conduct, and life coping skills.
While in Florida, Hollander was a coach for the Nike Junior Camp at Rollins College. There she served not only as a coach but spent time as a hitting/training partner for counselors and players.
Hollander’s coaching career began as a college and junior high performance camp assistant coordinator and counselor for two different camps. From 2012-2014, she helped to recruit high caliber players, creating programs designed to increase their performance. Her experience allowed her to work with players of all ages including top level college athletes from around the country.
Backing her coaching with a tremendous playing career, Hollander played No. 1 Singles and No. 1 Doubles in her final year at the University of North Florida. Some of the highlights of her career included beating the Ivy League Player of the Year and Women’s Tennis Association ranked opponents. Hollander received all-conference recognition twice during her college career. During this time, she was also a track athlete taking 7th place in the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament for javelin under her track and field coach Hope Schneider.
Hollander brings with her an array of knowledge after studying under Audra Cohen, Bill Clark, and Keith Axelrod. Cohen, the head coach of the University of North Florida, took the Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year award in 2014, in addition to leading the University of North Florida into the NCAA tournament on three separate occasions. Clark, who is the owner of the Bill Clark Tennis Academy, has trained over one hundred players, helping them to obtain scholarships to top tier programs. Clark has also coached several athletes who have gone on to win the USTA National Gold Ball. Axelrod worked with Team Florida, who develops some of the top junior players in the state of Florida.
Outside of tennis, Hollander is skilled with a brush and canvas, having been recognized for her painting and art skill. She has several paintings on display and has won numerous awards based off of her talents.
“I would like to thank everyone who got me to where I am today,” said Hollander. “Those who pushed me to be the type of player and coach that I am. I am grateful for their influence. I am looking forward working with this team. The men and women have a very high ceiling. I am excited to see how far they can go, and I am excited to be a part of the process.”
