Mid-American Conference

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES 2018 WOMEN’S TENNIS AWARDS
 
Cleveland, Ohio -- The Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced the 2018 women’s tennis awards today prior to the start of the 2018 MAC Women’s Tennis Championships on the campus of Ball State University coming April 27-29 in Muncie, Ind.
 
Miami senior Nelli Ponomareva was named MAC Player of the Year and was named first-team All-MAC selection.  A native of Krasnodar, Russia, Ponomareva led the RedHawks at No. 1 singles with a 15-5 overall record, including 7-1 in the MAC. Ponomareva and the RedHawks finished the regular season with an 11-8 overall record, along with a 7-1 MAC record for the No. 2 seed in the upcoming 2018 MAC Women’s Tennis Championship. For Ponomareva, this marks her second All-MAC first team selection (2016, 2018), along with a All-MAC second team selection (2017).
 
Buffalo head coach Kristen Ortman Maines was named MAC Coach of the Year as the Bulls won the MAC Regular Season title for the first time in program history with an undefeated 8-0 record, including a 15-3 overall record. This spring the Bulls have won 12 consecutive matches dating back to Feb. 25 and will be seeded No. 1 in this week’s MAC Championship.
 
Akron freshman Miruna Vasilescu was named MAC Newcomer of the Year and also earned a second-team All-MAC selection.  A native of Ulm, Germany, Vasilescu led the Zips at No. 1 and No. 2 singles with an overall record of 12-5, including 5-3 in the MAC. Vasilescu also starred at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles with an 11-8 overall record, 3-2 in the MAC.
 
Toledo senior Colleen O’Brien earned the Leann Grimes Davidge Sportsmanship Award.  A native of Ann Arbor, Mich., O’Brien played the season at No. 3 singles with a 11-8 overall record, including 5-2 in the MAC.  O’Brien also played at No. 2 doubles with a 4-0 MAC record, including 15-0 overall.  The award is presented annually to a student who has displayed outstanding sportsmanship in MAC competition.
 
Buffalo (15-3 overall; 8-0 MAC) earned the No. 1 seed as the MAC regular season champion for the first time in program history.  Buffalo was represented with junior Chantal Martinez Blanco and senior Tanja Stojanovska named as All-MAC first team selections and senior Lolade Ogungbesan named All-MAC second team. For Stojanovska it marked her fourth All-MAC first team selection (2015-18). This year’s All-MAC first team selection for Blanco was her first (2018) after two consecutive All-MAC second team selections (2016-17).
 
Toledo (15-6 overall; 5-3 MAC) as the No. 3 seed witnessed sophomore Dee Dee Leenabanchong named All-MAC second team selection, in addition to O’Brien’s honor as the recipient of the Leann Grimes Davidge Sportsmanship Award.
 
Bowling Green (13-8 overall; 5-3 MAC) earned the No. 4 seed with junior Paula Comella and junior Polina Radeva both named All-MAC first team selections. For Comella, this marks her second All-MAC first team selection (2016, 2018), along with one All-MAC second team selection (2017).
 
Eastern Michigan (16-9 overall; 3-5 MAC) earned the No. 5 seed as senior Ani Gogvadze led the Eagles and was named All-MAC first team selection.
 
Akron freshman Anna Uljanov joined freshman teammate Miruna Vasilescu as an All-MAC second team selection, while Western Michigan junior Melina Lyubomirova and senior Barbare Eristavi were both named All-MAC second team selections.
 
2018 Women’s Tennis All-MAC
FIRST TEAM
+*Nelli Ponomareva, Miami
+^Chantal Martinez Blanco, Buffalo
Ani Gogvadze, Eastern Michigan
&*#Tanja Stojanovska, Buffalo
+*Paula Comella, Bowling Green
Polina Radeva, Bowling Green
 
SECOND TEAM:
Miruna Vasilescu, Akron
Lolade Ogungbesan, Buffalo
Melina Lyubomirova, Western Michigan
Barbare Eristavi, Western Michigan
Anna Uljanov, Akron
Dee Dee Leenabanchong, Toledo
 
&2017 First Team All-MAC
+2017 Second Team All-MAC
*2016 First Team All-MAC
^2016 Second Team All-MAC
#2015 First Team All-MAC
 
COACH OF THE YEAR: Kristen Ortman Maines, Buffalo
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Nelli Ponomeva, Miami
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Miruna Vasilescu, Akron
LEANN GRIMES DAVIDGE SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Colleen O’Brien, Toledo