Senior Laura Gravino was one of 10 honored by the Missouri Valley Conference with 2005 First Team Scholar-Athlete accolades, as voted on by league sports information directors. Junior Emilie Sechaud received Honorable Mention recognition.
Gravino, a senior from Lawrence, Kan., carries a 3.33 GPA with a major in Early Childhood Education. Owning a singles record of 23-7 through the 2005 regular season, Gravino recently moved into third place on the Redbirds career singles win list with 97 victories.
While Gravino was a first-team selection in 2003, and an honorable mention pick last year, Sechaud makes her first appearance on the honorable mention squad.
A junior International Business major, Sechaud has a cumulative GPA of 3.05. The Geneva, Switzerland native compiled a singles record of 23-7 in the regular season, mainly at the No. 4 position, and a 13-6 mark playing at the No. 3 doubles spot for the Birds. Head coach Chris Hoover was pleased to see two of his players recognized by the Valley.
Its nice for the Valley to recognize our athletes with this kind of award, said Hoover. Every honor Laura Gravino gets, she deserves. An honor like this is very reflective of the kind of person she is, she works hard, gives everything 100% and definitely deserves this.
Emilie certainly deserves the recognition as well, Hoover continue. Shes already done some great things for Illinois State tennis, and I think this kind of honor is indicative of the things she can continue to do in the future.
Gravino and Sechaud return to the court with the rest of the Redbirds Friday, Saturday and Sunday in MVC tournament action, hosted by Bradley in Peoria, Ill. The Birds will be playing for their third consecutive Valley Tournament title, and a berth into the NCAA tournament.
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