MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WOMEN'S TENNIS AWARDS
For Immediate Release-Thursday, April 28, 2011
2011 Women's Tennis Individual Awards VIDEO
2011 Women's Tennis All-MAC First-Team VIDEO
2011 Women's Tennis All-MAC Second Team VIDEO
Ypsilanti, Mich. - The Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced the 2011 Women's Tennis Awards today. Regular season champion Miami University placed two first-team selections and one second-team selection, in addition to RedHawks coach Anca Dumitrescu taking home the Coach of the Year award at the annual banquet at the Women's Tennis Championships on the campus of Eastern Michigan University.
Miami first-year coach Anca Dumitrescu won the Coach of the Year award, leading the Redhawks to the conference regular season title with an 8-0 conference record, including a 17-5 mark overall.
Akron, who finished second in the MAC with a 7-1 conference record, including a 17-4 mark overall, placed one first-team selection and two second-team selections. The Zips were also represented with Zara Harutyunyan taking the Player of the Year award.
For the third consecutive year, Akron's Zara Harutyunyan was honored as the Player of the Year as she compiled an 8-0 conference record for the Zips at No. 1 singles, and a No. 1 doubles mark of 7-1 in league play. Overall she was 13-8 in singles and 14-7 in doubles.
Western Michigan's Nini Sujashvili earned the Freshman of the Year award, as she garnered a 5-3 conference record at No. 2 singles and a 3-5 record at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. Sujashvili was 20-13 overall in singles and 12-15 in doubles.
Bowling Green's Christina Chiricosta and Buffalo's Diana Popescu shared the honor of winning the Leann Grimes Davidge Sportsmanship Award. The award is presented to the player who has displayed outstanding sportsmanship in MAC competition. Chiricosta, a senior from Avon Lake, Ohio, leads the Falcons program all-time in wins and served as No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles. Popescu also served as No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles for the Bulls.
Joining Miami's Anastasia Dracheva and Stephanie Danesis with All-MAC first-team honors were Zara Harutyunyan (Akron), Christine Chiricosta (Bowling Green), Diana Popescu (Buffalo) and Nina Sujashvili (Western Michigan).
All-MAC second team honors went to Angelika Jogasuria (Akron), Megan Martzolf (Miami), Maggie Remynse (Western Michigan), Prang Pantusart (Akron), Miriam Westerink (Eastern Michigan) and Ashley Frey (Toledo).
2011 Women's Tennis All-MAC
FIRST TEAM
Zara Harutyunyan, Akron
Anastasia Dracheva, Miami
Stephanie Danesis, Miami
Christine Chiricosta, Bowling Green
Diana Popescu, Buffalo
Nina Sujashvili, Western Michigan
SECOND TEAM:
Angelika Jogasuria, Akron
Megan Martzolf, Miami
Maggie Remynse, Western Michigan
Prang Pantusart, Akron
Miriam Westerink, Eastern Michigan
Ashley Frey, Toledo
COACH OF THE YEAR: Anca Dumitrescu, Miami
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Nini Sujashvili, Western Michigan
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Zara Harutyunyan, Akron
LEANN GRIMES DAVIDGE SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Christine Chiricosta, Bowling Green/Diana Popescu, Buffalo