Women’s Tennis’ Ivone Alvaro Claims American Freshman of the Year honors
May 4, 2017 | Women's Tennis
Sade Atkinson named All-Conference as well
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference released its end of season women's tennis awards on Thursday afternoon as Tulane was on the receiving end of two of the league's honors. Ivone Alvaro claimed Co-Freshmen of the Year honors alongside Houston's Tsveta Dimitrova, while junior Sade Atkinson was named an All-Conference selection.
Alvaro finished with an 18-5 dual record, ending the year on a team high 11-match win streak. The Portugal native went 4-0 against conference opposition, and defeated Becca Weissmann of LSU which led to Tulane's first top-30 ranked win in the post-Katrina era. Lastly, Alvaro was also impressive in doubles, posting a 17-3 record in dual play.
Meanwhile, Atkinson recorded the best turnaround year on the team, going from 0-4 in dual matches the year before to a 16-8 record this season. Atkinson produced her first ranked win in the fall with a victory over No. 51 Natalie Suk of Ole Miss, reaching the Round of 16 at the ITA Southern Regional event in the process. Atkinson mainly partnered with Alvaro in doubles, leading the squad with an 18-5 dual record.
Atkinson was a one-time American Athletic Conference Player of the Week and was also named The American's Player of the Month for October.
Both Alvaro and Atkinson helped Tulane achieve its first 20+ win season in the post-Katrina era, finishing at 22-7.
2017 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WOMEN'S TENNIS AWARDS
Players of the Year
Celia Ruiz, So., East Carolina
Dobby Leenabanchong, Sr., Tulsa
Freshmen of the Year
Tsveta Dimitrova, Houston
Ivone Alvaro, Tulane
Coach of the Year
Cristina Moros, USF
All-Conference Team
Monica Matias, Jr., UCF
Lauren Bellinger, Sr., Cincinnati
Kelly Poggensee-Wei, Gs., Cincinnati
Yelyzaveta Pletnyeva, Jr., UConn
Celia Ruiz, So., East Carolina
Tsveta Dimitrova, Fr., Houston
Anki Wind, R-Jr., Memphis
Juliana Cardoso, Jr., USF
Ana Roman Domingiuez, So., USF
Liza Buss, So., SMU
Sarai Monarrez, Fr., SMU
Sade Atkinson, Jr., Tulane*
Ivone Alvaro, Fr., Tulane
Dobby Leenabanchong, Sr., Tulsa
Ksenia Laskutova, Jr., Tulsa
* Unanimous selection
** There are 15 players on the all-conference team due to a tie in the voting
Alvaro finished with an 18-5 dual record, ending the year on a team high 11-match win streak. The Portugal native went 4-0 against conference opposition, and defeated Becca Weissmann of LSU which led to Tulane's first top-30 ranked win in the post-Katrina era. Lastly, Alvaro was also impressive in doubles, posting a 17-3 record in dual play.
Meanwhile, Atkinson recorded the best turnaround year on the team, going from 0-4 in dual matches the year before to a 16-8 record this season. Atkinson produced her first ranked win in the fall with a victory over No. 51 Natalie Suk of Ole Miss, reaching the Round of 16 at the ITA Southern Regional event in the process. Atkinson mainly partnered with Alvaro in doubles, leading the squad with an 18-5 dual record.
Atkinson was a one-time American Athletic Conference Player of the Week and was also named The American's Player of the Month for October.
Both Alvaro and Atkinson helped Tulane achieve its first 20+ win season in the post-Katrina era, finishing at 22-7.
2017 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WOMEN'S TENNIS AWARDS
Players of the Year
Celia Ruiz, So., East Carolina
Dobby Leenabanchong, Sr., Tulsa
Freshmen of the Year
Tsveta Dimitrova, Houston
Ivone Alvaro, Tulane
Coach of the Year
Cristina Moros, USF
All-Conference Team
Monica Matias, Jr., UCF
Lauren Bellinger, Sr., Cincinnati
Kelly Poggensee-Wei, Gs., Cincinnati
Yelyzaveta Pletnyeva, Jr., UConn
Celia Ruiz, So., East Carolina
Tsveta Dimitrova, Fr., Houston
Anki Wind, R-Jr., Memphis
Juliana Cardoso, Jr., USF
Ana Roman Domingiuez, So., USF
Liza Buss, So., SMU
Sarai Monarrez, Fr., SMU
Sade Atkinson, Jr., Tulane*
Ivone Alvaro, Fr., Tulane
Dobby Leenabanchong, Sr., Tulsa
Ksenia Laskutova, Jr., Tulsa
* Unanimous selection
** There are 15 players on the all-conference team due to a tie in the voting
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Tulane Tuesday: HC Jon Sumrall - 11/18/25
Tuesday, November 18
Tulane Tuesday: LB Chris Rodgers - 11/18/25
Tuesday, November 18
Tulane Tuesday: QB Jake Retzlaff - 11/18/25
Tuesday, November 18
Postgame: QB Jake Retzlaff - 11/15/25
Tuesday, November 18
