Miami Ohio University Athletics
Tennis Earns Three MAC Awards
4/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
CLEVELAND ââ'¬" With the 2016 Mid-American Conference Women's Tennis Championships approaching this weekend at Miami University, the conference announced the 2016 regular-season awards Wednesday afternoon. Three members of the Miami University women's tennis team received honors, including two placements on the All-MAC team.
Sophomore Nelli Ponomareva was named to the First-Team All-MAC for her terrific campaign which saw her finish 7-1 in MAC singles play. Ponomareva also reached that mark in doubles, including a 4-0 record with fellow sophomore Anastasiia Vasiukhina. This is the first All-MAC selection in Ponomareva's career. Miami has placed a player on the first-team for nine-consecutive seasons.
Joining Ponomareva is freshman Anzhelika Shapovalova, who was named to the Second-Team All-MAC for a solid rookie season. Shapovalova finished 8-11 overall, but picked up two victories over No. 1 Big Ten players and earned two MAC Singles Player of the Week awards.
Finally, senior Ana Rajkovic was honored with the Leann Grimes Davidge Sportsmanship Award, given each season to an outstanding senior athlete. The award is named for Miami's women's tennis coach from 1979-85, who led the team to four MAC titles prior to her tragic death in 1985. Rajkovic is the first RedHawk to be honored with the award since Kelly Douple in 2008.
Akron sophomore Ariadna Blinova received the MAC Player of the Year award, while Ball State head coach Max Norris was voted Coach of the Year. Bowling Green's Paula Comella rounded out the awards with the Freshman of the Year honor.
Players Mentioned
