MAC Announces 2019 Women's Tennis Postseason Awards
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES 2019 WOMEN’S TENNIS AWARDS
Cleveland, Ohio -- The Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced the 2019 women’s tennis awards today prior to the start of the 2019 MAC Women’s Tennis Championships on the campus of the University at Buffalo coming April 26-28 in Buffalo, N.Y.
Akron senior Sophia Geier was named MAC Player of the Year and was named first-team All-MAC selection. A native of Burgebrach, Germany, Geier led the Zips at No. 1 singles with a 19-1 overall record, including 7-0 in the MAC. Geier and the Zips finished the regular season with a 20-5 overall record, including 5-2 in the MAC for the No. 2 seed in the upcoming 2019 MAC Women’s Tennis Championship. For Geier, this marks her second All-MAC First Team selection (2017, 2019), along with an All-MAC Second Team selection (2016).
Miami head coach Ricardo Rosas was named MAC Coach of the Year as the RedHawks won the MAC Regular Season title for a league-best 23rd time in program history with a 6-1 MAC record, including a 10-10 overall record. Miami has won seven consecutive matches dating back to March 24 and will be seeded No. 1 in this week’s MAC Championship. For Rosas this marks his second MAC Coach of the Year Award as he previously was named following the 2010 season.
Miami freshman Brindtha Ramasamy was named MAC Newcomer of the Year and also earned All-MAC First Team honors. A native of Toronto, Canada, Ramasamy led Miami at No. 1 singles with an overall record of 13-4, including 5-2 in the MAC. She also played No. 1 doubles and finished with an 8-8 overall mark, including 5-2 in the MAC.
Toledo senior Claire Aleck earned the Leann Grimes Davidge Sportsmanship Award. A native of Ada, Mich., Aleck played the season at No. 6 singles with a 7-8 overall record, including 3-4 in the MAC. Aleck also played at No. 3 doubles with a 3-3 MAC record, including 6-8 overall. The award is presented annually to a student who has displayed outstanding sportsmanship in MAC competition.
Miami (10-10 overall; 6-1 MAC) earned the No. 1 seed as the MAC regular season champion for the 23rd time in program history. Miami was represented with freshman Brindtha Ramasamy as MAC Newcomer of the Year and All-MAC First Team honors and sophomore Milana Lysova named All-MAC Second Team honors, who posted a 7-12 overall record at No. 2 singles, including 4-3 in the MAC and a 6-11 overall record at No. 1 doubles, including 5-2 in the MAC.
Akron (20-5 overall; 5-2 MAC) earned the No. 2 seed and were led by Sophia Geier, named MAC Player of the Year and All-MAC First Team selection. Joining Geier were sophomore Miruna Vasilescu as All-MAC First Team honors with her 19-4 overall record at No. 2 singles, including 6-1 in the MAC. Vasilescu also led at No. 1 doubles with a 17-6 overall record, including 5-2 in the MAC. Sophomore Anna Uljanov was named All-MAC Second Team honors after her play at No. 3 singles and a 17-5 overall record, 6-1 in the MAC, and a 13-6 overall record at No. 2 doubles, including 3-2 in the MAC.
Western Michigan (12-10 overall; 4-3 MAC) earned the No. 3 seed and was represented by senior Melina Lyubomirova named All-MAC First Team and senior Denise Azcui named All-MAC Second Team selections. Lyubomirova played No. 1 singles with a 10-9 overall record, including 4-3 in the MAC and also played No. 2 doubles with a 15-3 overall record, 6-1 in the MAC. Azcui was 10-7 overall at No. 2 singles, including 5-2 in the MAC, while adding a 9-5 overall record at No. 3 doubles, including 3-4 in the MAC.
Ball State (15-5 overall; 4-3 MAC) finished the regular season as the No. 4 seed and witnessed senior Audrey Berger named All-MAC First Team and senior Peyton Gollhofer named All-MAC Second Team honors. Berger posted a 13-5 overall record at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, including 4-3 in the MAC, along with a 10-6 overall record at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, including 1-2 at No. 1 doubles in the MAC and 2-1 at No. 2 doubles in league play.
Toledo (11-9 overall; 3-4 MAC) earned the No. 5 seed and are led by junior Dee Dee Leenabanchong and senior Kokoro Chishaki, in addition to Aleck’s honor as the recipient of the Leann Grimes Davidge Sportsmanship Award
Buffalo (13-7 overall; 3-4 MAC) was represented by senior Chantal Martinez Blanco and freshman Pia Schwarz both named All-MAC Second Team selections as the Bulls are the No. 6 seed. Blanco posted a 16-11 overall record at No. 1 singles, including 3-4 in the MAC, while adding a 19-7 overall record at No. 1 doubles, including 3-3 in the MAC. Schwarz added a 18-9 overall record at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, including 5-2 in the MAC, while playing No. 1 and No. 2 doubles with a 31-11 overall record, including 2-3 in the MAC.
Bowling Green senior Paula Comella was named All-MAC First Team honors after ending the year with a 11-7 overall record at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, including 4-3 in the MAC, while adding a 13-5 overall record at No. 1 doubles, including 5-1 in the MAC.
2019 Women’s Tennis All-MAC
FIRST TEAM
&^Sophia Geier, Akron
Brindtha Ramasamy, Miami
Audrey Berger, Ball State
~Miruna Vasilescu, Akron
~Melina Lyubomirova, Western Michigan
#+*Paula Comella, Bowling Green
SECOND TEAM:
Denise Azcui, Western Michigan
Pia Schwarz, Buffalo
~Anna Uljanov, Akron
+*Peyton Gollhofer, Ball State
#+^Chantal Martinez Blanco, Buffalo
Milana Lysova, Miami
#2018 First Team All-MAC
~2018 Second Team All-MAC
&2017 First Team All-MAC
+2017 Second Team All-MAC
*2016 First Team All-MAC
^2016 Second Team All-MAC
COACH OF THE YEAR: Ricardo Rosas, Miami
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Sophia Geier, Akron
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Brindtha Ramasamy, Miami
LEANN GRIMES DAVIDGE SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Claire Aleck, Toledo
