Senior Liina Suurvarik racked up another prestigious award on Wednesday, April, 21 as she was named to the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete first team for the third consecutive year. Junior Laura Gravino was also named to the team for the second straight year, while head coach Chris Hoover garnered coach of the year accolades. Three other Redbirds earned conference recognition as well.
Suurvarik earned scholar-athlete honors with a GPA of 3.92 in International Business. Gravino, an Elementary Education major, carries a 3.18 GPA.
Additionally, Suurvarik was named to the singles flight all-conference team, at the No. 1 position, for the third straight year. In doubles, she earned her fourth straight doubles all-conference accolade at the No. 1 position with teammate Katri Miller. Gravino and Ashley Maxwell teamed up for a perfect 9-0 record in conference match play and earned No. 3 doubles all-conference honors.
Other Redbirds that were named to the singles flight all-conference team were Gravino at the No. 4 position and Emilie Sechuad at the No. 5 flight. The recognition marked Sechuads first all-conference honor, while Gravino garnered honors last season at the No. 3 spot. Freshman Katri Miller also grabbed her first award by being named to the singles all-select team.
Hoover was not left out of the awards as he was named 2004 Valley Coach of the Year for the second straight season. Hoover, whose team posted a 9-0 record and won the Valley regular season crown, has earned the honor four out of the last five years.
ISU will begin play at the MVC Championship Tournament on Friday, April 23 at 1:30 p.m. They will square off against the winner of the Evansville/Northern Iowa match.
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