BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. -- University of Charleston's
Katie Swann was selected as the Mountain East Conference women's tennis Freshman of the Year on Thursday afternoon, as the conference announced their 2017 women's tennis awards. Joining Swann as All-Mountain East selections are
Kristine Gegeshidze,
Elise Edwards and
Silvana Slusarciuc.
Swann, a freshman from Huntington, W.Va, earned First Team All-MEC honors to go along with her Freshman of the Year award. In her first season, Swann went 5-1 at No. 1 singles for the Golden Eagles. The Huntington, W.Va., product lost only to Laura Isbey (WVSU) in conference play. She played No. 1 doubles with Kristine Gegeshidze and the two went 5-2 in doubles in conference play, but defeated three top 50 doubles teams on their way to the ITA Atlantic Region championship in September.
Gegeshidze, a sophomore from Tbilisi, Georgia, returns to the All-MEC First Team, earning the same honor in her 2016 freshman season. Playing at No. 2 singles, Gegeshidze was unbeaten in MEC singles play, and holds a 9-1 record overall. She also paired with Katie Swann at No. 1 doubles to earn an ITA Atlantic Region title and post a 5-2 record in Mountain East Conference action.
Edwards, a junior from Burlington, Ontario, makes her third straight appearance on the All-MEC First Team after going a perfect 6-0 in conference singles for the 2017 season playing at No. 3 singles. The junior also posted an unblemished record in No. 2 doubles, pairing with Silvana Slusarciuc to go 6-0 against MEC opponents.
Slusarciuc, a junior from Timisoara, Romania, finds herself on the All-MEC Third Team for the third straight season after going 5-1 in conference play at No. 4 singles. Playing at No. 2 doubles, Slusarciuc went unbeaten with a 7-0 record after pairing up with fellow junior, Elise Edwards.
The University of Charleston had a league-best three first team honorees, while West Virginia State and West Virginia Wesleyan each had two.
Click
HERE for the full MEC release.
| First Team All-Mountain East Conference |
| Name (School) |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| Elise Edwards (UC) |
Jr. |
Burlington, Ontario |
| Kristine Gegeshide (UC) |
So. |
Tbilisi, Georgia |
| Rebekka Heigermoser (WVWC) |
So. |
Bavaria, Germany |
| Kierstin Hensley (WVSU) |
So. |
Ashland, Ky. |
| Laura Isbey (WVSU) |
Jr. |
Auckland, New Zealand |
| Trinite' Klamadji (FSU) |
Jr. |
Niamey, Niger |
| Irene Nunez (WVWC) |
So. |
Tres Cantos, Madrid |
| Katie Swann (UC) |
Fr. |
Huntington, W.Va. |
|
|
|
| Second Team All-Mountain East Conference |
| Name (School) |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| Heloisa Adams (FSU) |
Fr. |
Porto Alegre, Brazil |
| Nina Dillwald (WVSU) |
Sr. |
Castrop-Rauxel, Germany |
| Laura Herrera (NDC) |
So. |
Weston, Fla. |
| Laura Huwe (WLU) |
Jr. |
Frankfurt, Germany |
| Thais Mendez (WLU) |
Fr. |
Vina del Mar, Chile |
| Maurine Oudart (WLU) |
Fr. |
Amiens, France |
| Silvana Slusarciuc (UC) |
Jr. |
Timisoara, Romania |
| Daria Tyshchenko (WISE) |
Sr. |
Kirovograd, Ukraine |
Player of the Year: Laura Isbey (West Virginia State)
Freshman of the Year: Katie Swann (University of Charleston)
Coach of the Year: John Simms (West Virginia State)
