Tennis Great Inducted into Hall of Fame
February 28, 2023
Munns, a four-time all-American in singles and doubles, was the second Wildcat in Northwestern history to qualify for the NCAA Singles Championship during all four years of her career. She earned four All-Big Ten awards and was named the 2006 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and 2007 Big Ten Player of the Year.
“My four years were filled with learning challenges, failures, development, a lot of fun and so much growth,” Munns said during the induction ceremony. “I appreciate the relationships Northwestern gave me and the sense of community.”
Munns concluded her career a four-time All-American with 125 singles wins, including a 29-2 mark in the Big Ten. She was named ITA Midwest Regional Senior of the Year in 2009, ending the season ranked No. 21 nationally in singles and No. 13 in doubles after advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships with partner Lauren (Lui) Statman (BS09).
In addition to Munns, the 2022 class includes Emily Allard (softball), Bernie Jefferson (football), Morgan Lathrop (women's lacrosse), Mike McMullan (wrestling), Sabel Moffett (volleyball), Dayana Sarkisova (women's fencing), and fencing coach Laurie Schiller.
Now a married, mother of two, Munns is associate head coach at the University of Washington, where the team advanced to the NCAA championships for the third time. She previously coached at South Carolina, where she was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Carolina Region Assistant Coach of the Year.
She also coached at the University of Illinois, which she joined just four months after graduation. She was named ITA Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year after helping the Illini to an 18-8 finish.
“They say that every coach had a coach that inspired them to be a coach, and I’m now a coach because I was lucky enough to play for Claire (Pollard),” Munns said. “Claire cared about us more than any coach in the country. And because of that, it was the greatest four years I could have asked for. She taught me what a life changing impact you can have in this role.”
Munns, who grew up in Mettawa, Ill., hails from an athletic family. Her mother, Barbara Rose, swam for England's national swim team, and her father Graham Rose played semi-pro soccer in England. Her brother, Andrew Rose, played professional soccer in England and the US.
A highly ranked junior, Munns burst onto the college scene as a freshman in 2006, winning a school record 29 consecutive matches. She helped lead the Wildcats to four straight Big Ten titles and a final national ranking of No. 2 in 2008 and 2009. She was only the second player in school history to qualify for the NCAA Singles Championship all four years.
In 2009 she won the N Club Achievement Award, given to the student-athlete who exhibits the qualities of good citizenship, significant academic achievement, and outstanding athletic performance.
Fourteen years after graduating, Pollard is the first person Munns calls when she has to make a big decision or needs advice. “I knew in the recruiting process that Georgia was a special person and would be a great player,” Pollard said. “She had an infectious personality that drew everyone to her and made you want to be a part of what she was doing. I’m grateful she came into my life.”