April 21, 2004

ARLINGTON, Texas - The University of Texas at Arlington women's tennis team placed a total of seven student-athletes on the 2004 All-Southland Conference team, led by Daniela Novakova, who was named the freshman of the year. UTA topped all schools with all its picks on the first team, which comprise of four in singles and a sweep of the doubles flights.

According to Southland policy, student-athletes and doubles teams that are perfect in conference, playing at least 50 percent of the matches in a position, automatically earn an all-conference position.

After finishing with an 8-1 mark at No. 2 singles in league action, Marketa Cizova returns to the first team for the third time in her career at UTA. Fellow Czech Republic native, Novakova, joined Cizova on the first team after closing out league play undefeated at No. 3 singles. Simri van Rooyen earned first team honors after going undefeated in her collegiate debut at the No. 4 position, while senior Jitka Vetrovcova earned her third all-conference honor.

In doubles, UTA left no room for any of its competitors as the Lady Mavericks took all three flights. The Czech Republic duo of Cizova and Novakova and the freshman tandem of Monika Peciulionyte and Van Rooyen were voted to their respective slots by the head coaches while the Anete Rozkalne and Vetrovcova pair earned an automatic bid for a perfect 10-0 stint at No. 3 doubles. Cizova and Novakova tallied an 8-2 record at the top doubles spot while Peciulionyte and Van Rooyen were 8-1 at the No. 2 position.

The Lady Mavericks captured their fifth all-time regular-season title this year under the guidance of Christian Wassmer, who was tabbed the league's coach of the year by his peers. Wassmer is the first head women's tennis coach in the Southland to garner coaching honors three times.

Texas-Arlington will be the top seed in this weekend's SLC tournament hosted by McNeese State in Lake Charles, La.

-utamavs.com-