Perhaps the best player in the history of Idaho State women's tennis, Irene "Ika" Kakulia now joins the coaching staff of ISU to try to help the next generation of Bengal tennis players succeed.
During her career at ISU Kakulia was a four-time first-team All-Big Sky selection, the only player to do so in ISU history. She accumulated a 65-15 record in singles and a 45-21 mark in doubles for a combined record of 110-36.
Kakulia, a native of Tbilisi, Georgia, came to ISU during the 1998-99 academic year and made an immediate impact on the program. She set school records by compiling a 24-3 record in singles and an 11-9 mark in doubles. Her winning percentage in singles (.889) and her win total both set school records. She earned the first of her four All-Big Sky selections that year as well.
An ankle injury slowed down Kakulia in her second year with the Bengals, limiting her to just eight matches in the spring. She still managed to produce a strong 13-4 record in singles and a 7-5 mark in doubles. During the fall she won the Women's Flight 1 titles at the Idaho State Fall Tennis Classic and the Montana State Women's Tennis Tournament. She also qualified for the ITA Rolex Regional Tournament.
Despite playing the fact that ISU played just 16 matches during the 2000-01 season Kakulia still posted an impressive 11-4 mark in singles and an 11-3 mark in doubles.
She wrapped up her ISU career by being named All-Big Sky for the fourth straight season, while posting an impressive record of 17-4 in singles and 16-4 in doubles, playing with Hayli Scott and Eka Jvania.
She had success prior to her time at ISU as well, winning numerious junior tournaments, both in and out of her native Georgia. She was the Georgian Champion in both singles and doubles during 1996 and 1997. She also won an International Junior Tournament in France in 1995.
Kakulia's father, Tim, played professional tennis for the USSR. He was a nine-time USSR champion in singles and was a six-time winner in doubles. He played Davis Cup tennis for the USSR and helped his country to the semifinals twice. He won the European championship in singles 1976 and was a multiple champion in doubles. In 1974 he won the ACC England Plate Gentlemen Singles title.
Kakulia mother is Natela. She has one sibling, Maka. Kakulia graduated from ISU with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. She is currently working on her MBA at ISU.
