July 3, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State's head women's tennis coach Chris Hoover and four former men's and women's tennis players were named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Centennial Teams, which were released by the league office Tuesday. As it celebrates a century of excellence as the nation's second oldest NCAA Division I conference, the Valley is naming all-centennial teams for each of the league's sponsored sports.
Hoover, who was named as an All-Centennial team coach, has been at the helm of the Redbird women's tennis team since 1994. Under his leadership, ISU has won four MVC Tournament Championships (2001, 2003, 2004, 2005) and five conference titles(2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006). He was named Valley Coach of the Year four times (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004) and has led his team to six NCAA Tournament appearances in the past 10 years.
Three former ISU women's tennis athletes, and one former men's tennis player all received recognition on the All-Centennial teams.
Jason Smit (1999-03) was one of 33 players chosen on the men's side, where Janelle Crabtree (1992-95), Alesa Mikalayvea (1999-2002), and Liina Suurvarik (2001-04) were the three women selected to round out the 23 member squad.
Suurvarik left her mark at ISU as the most successful women's tennis student-athlete in the program's history. During her tenure she had 245 combined wins, including a 47-1 mark in the Valley. Suurvarik added a 130-25 singles record, and was the top singles and doubles Valley player all four years. She made two trips to the NCAA qualifier (one singles, one doubles) and was the Midwest Region doubles champion in 2001 with partner Mikalayvea.
Mikalayvea collected 176 combined doubles and singles career wins at Illinois State. She was a two-time MVC singles champion and a three-time No. 1 doubles champion with Suurvarik from 2000-02.
Crabtree had a combined total of 177 wins. She played at the No. 1 singles position for three years and was the top doubles player all four years.
Smit was named Valley Freshman of the Year in 2000. Over the course of his four years he claimed 184 combined wins. He still holds the record for career doubles wins at ISU (86 wins). During Smit's junior year (2002) he was ranked 46th in the nation in doubles. In 2003, Smit and his double partner Ciaran Foley were named to the MVC All-Conference team.
All-Centennial team composition for each sport has been determined though an on-line fan vote (www.mvc100.org) and by a centennial committee.
The Illinois State men's and women's tennis programs have been competing in the Valley since 1980.
