Vanderbilt Tennis Legend Julie Ditty Qualls Dies At 42

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Julie Ditty Qualls. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Former Vanderbilt Tennis legend and Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Famer Julie Ditty Qualls passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 31, at the age of 42 after a six year battle with cancer.

Ditty Qualls, a member of the class of 2002, made huge impacts on the Commodores tennis program and went on to have an extremely successful professional career. She ranked as high as No. 89 in the world by the WTA, played in all four grand slams in both singles and doubles, and represented the United States in Federation Cup play while clinching a captivating 2009 win over Argentina.

“We have lost a legend,” former Vanderbilt head coach Geoff Macdonald says in a statement made by Vanderbilt. “Her contribution to Vanderbilt Athletics is simply remarkable. She was an ever better human being than she was a tennis player, and she was one of the top 100 tennis players in the world.”

The Ashland, Kentucky, native led the team to the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 in 1998 as a freshman. It was just the second time in school history, and she became the fourth Commodore to compete in the NCAA Women’s Singles Championship. As a sophomore, she became the first Commodore to win a match in the Women’s Singles Championship. As a senior, she was the first to reach the third round of that event.

Ditty Qualls earned All-American accolades in each of her final three seasons at Vanderbilt and was named the 1999 Tennessee Athlete of the Year. The tennis program grew along with her, playing for the national championship for the first time when she was a senior in 2001.

“Our hearts are completely broken for Josh, Atreyu and the entire Ditty family,” Vanderbilt head coach Aleke Tsoubanos says. “To say her passing is devastating would be an understatement. Julie was a teammate and an incredible friend. During my freshman year, Julie led us to Vanderbilt’s first ever national championship match, which was a journey with a team I will never forget. I am so grateful for our time together. Both Vanderbilt and our tennis family have lost a genuinely amazing human being and a true legend. I wish her family and friends the strength they need during this very sad time.”

Ditty Qualls retired from the sport in 2011 and served as a volunteer assist coach at Vanderbilt for the 2012-13 season. She was inducted ingot the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame in 2019, and continues to give tennis lessons in Ashland up until the week before her death.

Ditty Qualls is survived by husband Josh and son Atreyu.

Steven Boero
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