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April 29, 2008
IRVING, Texas - Conference USA announced its 2008 All-Conference first, second and third teams along with postseason award winners for women's tennis today, as selected by the conference's head coaches. Marshall junior Kellie Schmitt earned C-USA Player of the Year and All-League first-team recognition for the second consecutive year. Schmitt is currently C-USA's top ranked singles player, coming in at No. 55 in the latest ITA rankings. Tulsa head coach Dean Orford also repeated as Coach of the Year after leading his team to its second straight C-USA Women's Tennis title and fourth overall NCAA appearance. Schmitt is 22-3 in singles this spring, including an 8-2 mark in her last 10 matches. She carries a 19-3 doubles record in dual matches, with most of her action coming at the No. 1 doubles line with partner Karolina Soor. Schmitt was also named C-USA Women's Tennis Player of the Week three this season and earned C-USA's October Tennis Player of the Month for her performance in the fall. Orford led his team to a 21-5 dual match mark in 2008, one of the best records in program history. His team cut through the 2008 championship in impressive fashion, outscoring its opponents 12-1 over its three matches. Tulsa became the league's first repeat winner since Tulane won the title in 2003-05. Overall in 2008, the Golden Hurricane finished in impressive 18-2 at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center and 7-1 versus opponents in its region. Tulsa's Alexandra Kichoutkin was named C-USA Outstanding Singles Player of the Championship and the league's Freshman of the Year, while also garnering first-team recognition. The freshman helped secure the league title with two straight-set wins at the No. 1 singles position. Her 7-6, 6-1 win over No. 55 Schmitt in the championship match clinched the 4-1 win for TU. Kichoutkin also grabbed one win at No. 1 doubles with partner Carla Zabaleta during the league championship. On the season, Kichoutkin was 33-5 and 23-2 in dual match play. She went 13-4 at the No. 1 singles line and was 4-1 against ranked opponents. She is ranked No. 98 in the latest ITA rankings.
Schmitt and Soor played at the top doubles spot for runner-up Marshall during the championship and secured two doubles points en route to earning the title of Outstanding Doubles Team of the Championship. The pair, currently C-USA's top ranked doubles team at No. 28, earned an 8-6 win against UCF and also helped the Herd win the doubles point in the championship match against Tulsa to help give their team the early 1-0 lead. Newcomer of the Year honors went to sophomore Nicole Briceno of SMU. The transfer from Alabama went 9-8 this spring, including a 4-1 mark at the No. 3 singles spot. She closed the season on a three-match winning streak in singles and defeated opponents from league foes Tulsa, Houston and Southern Miss. In doubles, Briceno went 13-7 overall, but was an impressive 10-2 at the No. 2 spot with partner Kseniia Tokarieva before Tokarieva went down with an injury. Before the injury broke up the tandem, they had been ranked as high as No. 38 after taking out the then-No. 21 pair from Duke. Four league teams were represented on the all-league first team. Joining Schmitt and Kichoutkin as first-team members were SMU's Natalia Bubien, Rice teammates Julie Chao and Dominique Karas and Tulsa's Thalia Diaz-Barriga. Representing the All-Conference Doubles Teams were duos from Marshall, SMU and Rice. Schmitt and Soor of Marshall were joined on the team by Bubien and Pavi Francis of SMU and Chao and Karas of Rice. Tulsa led the all-league teams with six selections, while Marshall and SMU followed with five selections and Rice notched three honors. Southern Miss' Ali Blackett garnered all-conference honors for the second consecutive year, receiving second team accolades. Blackett is one of four seniors who helped turn the Golden Eagle tennis program around, including registering the most team wins by a team with 17 last season and the first team ranking ever. Blackett completed her career as the all-time win leader in singles and doubles.
2008 Conference USA Women's Tennis Postseason Awards All-Conference USA First Team Kellie Schmitt, Marshall - ITA No. 55 Alexandra Kichoutkin, Tulsa - ITA No. 98 Natalia Bubien, SMU - ITA No. 111 Julie Chao, Rice Thalia Diaz-Barriga, Tulsa Dominique Karas, Rice |
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