When Hannah Kassaie received word that she was a finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year award, she was filled with pride and a question: Can I travel from Bangkok to the ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee?
"To be invited was such an honor," Kassaie said. "I didn't want to miss it."
Kassaie had been in Thailand for a yearlong program at a genetics research lab after she graduated from Case Western Reserve in May 2024. The NCAA agreed to cover her ticket, so the former tennis standout decided to trek back to the United States for the two-day event.
In January, after a 34-hour travel day, involving multiple trains, four planes and a 13-hour time zone difference, Kassaie made it back on American soil. "Even with all this travel, it was definitely worth it, and it's something I'll always remember."
She had not seen her family for three months, so the award ceremony was an unexpected but welcome visit. Her parents, head coach and even her grandmother attended the ceremony.
"(The award) definitely made me look back on those days of playing tennis as a 4-year-old and my parents' sacrifices and support over the years. They never missed any of my college matches except for one," she said. "It also made me reflect on all the amazing but also difficult times our team has been through together and how grateful I am for them and being able to help and motivate each other through it all."
Family members joined Hannah Kassaie at the Woman of the Year ceremony at the NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, in January. The award honors female student-athletes who excel athletically, academically and in their community. (Photos courtesy of Hannah Kassaie)
Before Kassaie left her mark as an exceptional college tennis player, she was just a 4-year-old kid tagging along to the tennis courts with her father, Ali. Her father would play in local U.S. Tennis Association tournaments while she ran around the open courts, assembling the yellow balls into shapes. She admits the balls went everywhere, but it was her introduction to tennis.
"I always looked up to my dad and wanted to play like him. I slowly grew to love the sport and love the time I was spending with my dad and my family doing it," she said.
Kassaie's tennis experience evolved, and she began playing competitively. She never thought much about college tennis, though, because she mostly did it for fun.
When choosing a college, Kassaie focused solely on academics. She selected Case Western Reserve, located in her hometown of Cleveland, to pursue a nutrition degree, with the plan to go to medical school after graduation. Luckily, the school also had a tennis program.
"Looking back, I can't imagine not having tennis in my college experience," she said.
In addition to excelling in tennis, Kassaie dominated in the classroom, earning multiple Academic All-America honors.
During her freshman year, Kassaie led her team on the university's first NCAA tournament run, the first of consecutive appearances in all three years of her college experience. The three-time All-American in both singles and doubles said her postseason runs were the highlight of her collegiate career.
"Our team is really close, so being able to qualify together and be in that team environment, that was by far my best, my most prized accomplishment," Kassaie said.
Head coach Kirsten McMahon said Kassaie epitomized being a positive role model.
"Hannah's career stats, awards and team records speak for them self, but it was wonderful to see how much she embraced the team aspect of our sport at the college level and built long- lasting relationships with her teammates. She always made an effort to connect with each and every one of her teammates."
Lily McCloskey, her doubles partner and friend, said Kassaie left an incredible legacy on campus.
"Not only is she the most accomplished player to come through the program, but she did everything in only three years. She is leaving a legacy of someone who was so talented on and off the court but always humble and true to herself. She was so selfless and was the true definition of a team player."
Any praise Kassaie received, she pointed right back at her teammates, citing how she could not notch accomplishments without them. Through tough losses, stressful exams and long travel days, she leaned on more experienced student-athletes in her early years, becoming a mentor to younger ones as she grew older.
"We were always able to band together," Kassaie said. "I'm definitely most proud of how we were able to be such a close-knit group of friends and really felt like a family throughout all three years."
During her time at Case Western Reserve, Kassaie further developed her passion for medicine and excelled in the classroom. She earned multiple College Sports Communicators Academic All-America honors and was named the 2023 Academic All-America Team Member of the Year in her sport. She also won two NCAA Elite 90 awards for having the highest GPA of all competitors at a championship finals site
Kassaie, who is half Thai, also enjoyed the moments shared over food with her teammates.
While Jimmy John sandwiches were typical fare before matches, the team sometimes would get Thai food afterward. On special occasions, Kassaie's mother, Voravan Shotelersuk, would make her sticky rice as a carb booster. "That was a really tasty, tasty treat before matches," she said.
Food even served as a conduit for friendship in Kassaie's life. McCloskey remembers Kassaie bringing homemade meals to her apartment so they could eat together. "Truly the best teammate and friend," she said.
Kassaie also used her talents to help her community, volunteering with a food recovery network, tutoring schoolchildren and international students, and teaching tennis skills to middle and high school teams.
Yet Kassaie's most meaningful service was through Buddy Up Connections, in which she was paired with an athlete with Down syndrome. In high school, Kassaie and her buddy, Audrey, would play tennis together, which evolved to meeting online every week throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
When Kassaie got to college, the two continued to meet every single week. Even while Kassaie is in Thailand, she and Audrey still talk on the phone.
"She is a special friend to me, she is like a big sis," Audrey said. "Any time I see her smiley face and she sees mine, I just feel like we have that connection. I never want to leave this friendship."
"It made me realize the importance of human connection. That's something I wanted to have in my career overall, being able to not only connect and have fun with each other," Kassaie said. "To see her grow and be a part of her progress socially, tenniswise, is just something that was important to me. ... As a doctor, I hope to be able to be a part of my patients' progress."
In the fall, Kassaie will go back to Case Western Reserve for medical school, a welcomed return to her university.
With her long list of accolades, it is clear why Kassaie was a Woman of the Year finalist, but when she reflects on her collegiate career, her friendships are the true prize.
"Anytime I look back at the three years I played tennis, I think about how excited I was to be able to be with such a great group of friends and teammates," she said. "That's what will stick with me."
