Accolades Keep Rolling In For Women's Tennis Players
Aug 13, 2003 | Women's Tennis
Aug. 13, 2003
NEW ORLEANS, La. - - After one of the most successful seasons in school history, the honors keep coming for three members of the Tulane women's tennis team.
Rising sophomore Erika Valdes has been selected to represent her native Mexico in this summer's World University Games, while fellow Wave newcomers Jenny Kuhn and Julie Smekodub have been named to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Collegiate All-Star Team.
"These are very prestigious honors for these three players," Tulane head coach David Schumacher said. "They each made an indelible mark on the success of our program this past year and continue to do so even during the summer."
Originally from Mexico City, Valdes will be one of 92 women from 45 countries to compete in the World University Games tennis competition. The Games will be held in Daegu, South Korea from August 21-31. She won a national qualifying tournament in July to earn her spot on the team. She was also selected to represent Mexico in the Pan American Games, but was declared ineligible for the event after the Mexican Tennis Federation neglected to file her entry form on time.
Valdes finished the 2003 spring season at Tulane with an 18-6 record in singles play and was ranked 113th in the final ITA poll. She was a first-team All-Conference USA selection
Kuhn and Smekodub, who both earned All-America honors from the ITA, were named to the 13-member women's Collegiate All-Star team that features players from all three NCAA divisions, as well as NAIA and the National Junior College Athletic Association.
The duo reached the Round of 16 in doubles at the NCAA Championships after having won the ITA National Indoor Doubles title last fall. Smekodub also earned All-America honors in singles after reaching the Round of 16 in the singles draw of the NCAA Tournament.
Smekodub finished the year ranked 34th in singles by the ITA, while Kuhn was listed 72nd. The duo was ranked 10th in the final ITA doubles rankings. Each was also a first-team All-Conference USA selection, while Kuhn being named C-USA Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.
Players Mentioned
