The Illinois State womens tennis team was rewarded for its outstanding play by earning the No. 1 through No. 3 singles positions on the Missouri Valley All-Conference womens tennis team Tuesday, and capturing No. 1 and No. 2 doubles positions. Emilie Sechaud was named the Valley Freshman of the Year and head coach Chris Hoover was named Valley Coach of the Year.
Liina Suurvarik represents the Redbirds at the No. 1 flight by posting a 34-5 record, which is five wins from tying ISUs single-season wins record of 39 held by Jennelle Crabtree. Alesia Mikalayeva, who was also named player of the week for April 20, was named at the No. 2 position owning an 18-11 record overall and 8-1 in the Valley. Laura Gravino who has been one of the hottest players recently for ISU only dropping two games in her last six matches, was named All-Valley at the No. 3 position.
In doubles, Suurvarik and Mikalayeva led the way for the Birds going 26-7 and 11-1 in the Valley, and was named All Valley at the No. 1 flight. Gravino and Alana Hoffman were named to the No. 2 doubles position by posting a 7-1 record in the Valley and 10-8 overall.
Head coach Chris Hoover said that the players earned the honors they gained.
The players deserved to be honored how they were, Hoover said. They have put forward an extremely hard work ethic and it showed when they took the courts this season.
For the fourth-straight year a Redbird gained freshman of the year honors. Sechaud, from Geneva, Switzerland, took the honor this year by owning a 12-1 Valley record and 17-12 overall. The past three winners of this honor were Mikalayeva in 2000, Suurvarik in 2001, and Gravino in 2002.
Hoover was named Valley Coach of the Year for the third time in his nine-year career. This is also the third time in four years he has won this award, winning it in 2000 and 2001. Hoover was pleased that he gained acknowledgment from his peers, but knows who he owes this award to.
It is nice to be recognized by other coaches and earn an award like this, Hoover said. However, I would not have won this award if it wasnt for the outstanding play of the team this year.
The Redbirds will have the No. 1 seed going into the Valley tournament, which starts Thursday, April 25 and concludes Monday, April 28, at the SMS Tennis Center in Springfield, Mo. Southwest Missouri State is hosting the championship.
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