BIRMINGHAM, AL -- The Winthrop women’s tennis team collected a total of six awards at the Big South Annual Tennis Banquet held at the Sheraton Civic Center Hotel in Birmingham, Ala, on Wednesday night.
Junior Ana Paula Novaes was named the 2006 Big South Conference Women’s Player of the Year and Patricia Coimbra received the Freshman of the Year award. Novaes posted a singles record of 7-0 in Big South play at the number one spot, while Coimbra recorded a 6-1 singles mark in the conference. Novaes and Coimbra were also nominated to the All-Conference Singles Team.
Novaes, along with partner senior Paula Takahashi, made the All-Big South Doubles Team as they compiled a perfect 7-0 conference mark. Takahashi was also selected to the All-Academic Team.
Number one seed Lady Eagles will start their quest for their fifth straight Big South Conference title and automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament on Thursday as they take on eighth seeded team UNC Asheville at 9 a.m. at the BSC Tennis Complex.
Women’s Tennis Honors
Singles
Cammie Nix, Birmingham-Southern
Meryam Tazi, Charleston Southern
Hayley Rudman, Coastal Carolina
Sofie Ahlberg, Coastal Carolina
Jonita Randolph, Liberty
Dina Senkina, Liberty
Ana Paula Novaes, Winthrop
Patricia Coimbra, Winthrop
Doubles
Meryam Tazi/Rebecca Franzi, Charleston Southern
Virginie Dinh/Hayley Rudman, Coastal Carolina
Jonita Randolph/Martyna Hanusz, Liberty
Ana Paula Novaes/Paula Takahashi, Winthrop
All-Academic Team
Stephanie Boucher, Birmingham-Southern
Petra Jantti, Coastal Carolina
Sarah McDonaugh, High Point
Jonita Randolph, Liberty
Cassandra Price, Radford
Rachel Rhoney, UNC Asheville
Paula Takahashi, Winthrop
Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Cassandra Price, Radford
Player of the Year
Ana Paula Novaes, Winthrop
Freshman of the Year
Patricia Coimbra, Winthrop
Coach of the Year
Jody Davis, Coastal Carolina