Five Women's Tennis Players Named All-Conference USA
Apr 30, 2003 | Women's Tennis
April 30, 2003
NEW ORLEANS, La. - - Freshman Jenny Kuhn swept both the Player and Freshman of the Year awards, while David Schumacher was named Coach of the Year, as Conference USA announced its annual women's tennis awards on Wednesday.
In addition, the Tulane women's tennis team learned that it will play No. 33 Texas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Gainesville, Fla., on Fri., May 9. In another first-round match in Gainesville, the host Gators, ranked second nationally, will face No. 64 Florida Atlantic. Tulane is currently ranked 29th in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll.
Joining Kuhn on the All-Conference USA first team were fellow Green Wave freshmen Julie Smekodub and Erika Valdes. Sophomore Ana Saaibi was named second-team All-Conference USA, while Maria Ivanov, last season's C-USA Freshman of the Year, was a third-team all-league choice this year. Tulane's five selections topped all C-USA schools, as TCU was second with three overall selections.
"This is certainly one of the most exciting days in the annals of Tulane women's tennis," head coach Schumacher said. "It is very exciting that we have had five of our top six singles players named all-conference and Jenny (Kuhn) is especially deserving of her awards. These honors will certainly give our players some confidence as we head into the NCAA Tournament against Texas. We know we have a tough draw, but it should be a good match up. Texas came to New Orleans for some individual matches in January, so we are familiar with each other. Our players have been working hard and we are looking forward to our NCAA Tournament appearance."
Kuhn, a freshman from Leipzig, Germany, is just the fourth player in Conference USA history to win both Player and Freshman of the Year honors, but the first since 1998. Kuhn has compiled an 18-2 record in singles play this year, including an active streak of 14 consecutive wins. She is currently listed 61st in the singles rankings by the ITA and was twice named Conference USA Player of the Week (March 11 and 19).
Smekodub, a freshman from Brooklyn, N.Y., has posted an 8-7 record in singles play despite battling injuries for much of the season. She is ranked 33rd in singles play by the ITA and teams with Kuhn to form the nation's 10th ranked doubles tandem. After winning the ITA National Indoor championship this past fall, the duo has added a 12-4 doubles record this spring.
Valdes' mention to the All-Conference USA first team makes Tulane the only school in league history to have three first-team selections. A native of Mexico City, Mexico, Valdes has cruised to a 17-5 record in singles play and a 17-4 mark in doubles action with Saaibi. Valdes is currently ranked 109th by the ITA.
Saaibi was named to the All-Conference USA second team after posting an 18-3 record in singles play. She has won six straight matches, including the clinching matches in Tulane's semifinal and championship wins at the Conference USA Tournament.
Ivanov, who also battled injuries through the early part of the season, rebounded to win five of her last seven matches to earn third-team All-Conference USA honors. She also teamed with partner Nancy Kockott to record a 13-6 record in doubles play.
Schumacher earned his second Conference USA Coach of the Year honor in the last three seasons after leading the Green Wave to the C-USA championship. He has guided the Wave to a 19-4 overall mark, setting a school a record for wins in a season. In addition, Tulane was ranked as high as 25th this season by the ITA, marking the highest ranking in school history.
The Green Wave return to action with its match-up against Texas on Fri., May 9.
2003 Conference USA Women's Tennis Awards
First Team Paty Aburto, TCU
Marie Louise Frolich-Hansen, Louisville
Rosa Perez, TCU
Jenny Kuhn, Tulane
Julie Smekodub, Tulane
Erika Valdes, Tulane
Second Team
Miranda Foley, Houston
Monica Gonzalez Gordo, Memphis
Szilvia Kelemen, DePaul
Sabrina Lindemann, Memphis
Ana Maria Saaibi, Tulane
Eva Trujillo-Herrera, Marquette
Third Team
Khushchehr Italia, Cincinnati
Maria Ivanov, Tulane
Lyndall Jordan, East Carolina
Analia Longoni, Houston
Marina Parashkevova, DePaul
Saber Pierce, TCU
Coach of the Year
David Schumacher, Tulane
Player of the Year
Jenny Kuhn, Tulane
Freshman of the Year
Jenny Kuhn, Tulane
