April 24, 2012

FRISCO, Texas - UT Arlington senior Maria Martinez-Romero has been named the 2012 Southland Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Year by vote of the conference's head coaches and sports information directors, the league office announced Tuesday in conjunction with the release of the all-conference women's tennis teams.

Martinez-Romero, a native of Nules, Spain, coasted to a 10-1 record at No. 1 singles in conference play and was selected first-team all-conference for the second consecutive year. As a senior, Martinez-Romero led the Mavericks to a 14-8 overall record and 9-2 mark in conference play. She played all her matches in the No. 1 singles spot, recording a 14-6 record for the season. Martinez-Romero's player of the year honor marks the seventh award given to a UTA student-athlete, which is the most among conference teams. She also earned second-team all-conference honors as a freshman and sophomore.

Joining Martinez-Romero in all-conference honors was UT Arlington senior Natalia Mayuk. Mayuk earned the second-team No. 3 singles spot behind an 8-2 conference record at the position and a 1-0 record at No. 2.

Head coach Diego Benitez has had an impact in Martinez-Romero's success and is proud of his four year letter winner.

"I feel so proud of Maria and Natalia, they have worked so hard and are well deserve of this recognition," Benitez said about his athletes honors.

"I'm especially happy for Maria, who has had one of the best careers in the history of UTA Women's Tennis compiling an amazing record in her four years. Being named MVP of our Conference is the best label she could earn on her senior year. I feel proud of what we do, last year Diana got it and this year Maria, back to back MVP is a great honor for our program."

Tatiana Larina, a native of Tagarrog, Russia, was named the freshman of the year and was earned first-team all-conference honors at No. 2 singles after recording a 10-1 record. Larina led the Lady Demons to a 14-4 overall record, posting a 14-2 record at the No. 2 position and 1-1 at No. 3. She is the first Northwestern State student-athlete named freshman of the year and the third to receive a postseason superlative.

Lamar junior transfer Carolina Salas was selected the newcomer of the year behind a 15-6 season at No. 1 singles, which included an 8-3 conference record. The Detroit-Mercy transfer earned first-team all-conference honors in the Horizon League as a freshman and second-team as a sophomore. She is the first Cardinal student-athlete to earn newcomer of the year honors.

Patrick Sullivan was named coach of the year after leading Stephen F. Austin to its first-ever regular-season championship, finishing with a 10-1 conference record. In his second year at Stephen F. Austin, Sullivan led the Ladyjacks to a No. 45 national ranking and their second consecutive 20-win season. Sullivan is the first coach from Stephen F. Austin to win the award.

Other Demons joining Larina in earning first-team honors in singles is sophomore Polina Konop, who went 9-2 at No. 3 singles. She teamed up with senior Olga Bazhanova to earn first-team all-conference at the No. 1 doubles position with a 9-2 conference record. Northwestern State junior Andrea Nederostova earned second-team all-conference at No. 4 singles following an 8-3 season.

Stephen F. Austin also received four all-conference selections, including three first-team honors. Junior Antonia Kolovou claimed the No. 5 singles spot with a 6-0 conference record at No. 5 and 2-0 records at the No. 3 and No. 4 positions. Freshman Malena Gordo earned the No. 6 singles spot behind a 4-0 conference season with a 2-1 record at No. 4 and 3-0 at No. 5. Jithmie Jayawickrema and Alina Shazko earned first-team honors at No. 2 doubles after posting an 8-0 conference record and claiming two matches at the No. 1 position. Rounding out Stephen F. Austin's selections is No. 3 doubles team Elena Kordolaimi and Laura Servise, earning second-team all-conference behind a 6-2 season.

Texas State earned three all-conference selections, including unblemished No. 3 doubles team Mariana Perez and Rachel Baldree who earned a first-team selection after posting a 10-0 record. Sophomore Jessica Kahts was named second-team all-conference at No. 1 singles with a 9-2 record, and claimed the second-team No. 1 doubles spot with teammate Melissa Hadad, posting an 8-3 conference record.

Lamar saw two student-athletes earn all-conference selections. Lamar's Alessandra Pennesi and Helene Czudek each earned second-team all-conference mention. Pennesi's 9-2 record earned her the No. 5 slot while Czudek earned the award behind an 8-3 season at No. 6 singles.

Sam Houston State, UTSA and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi rounded out the conference selections with one honoree apiece. Bearkat Andrea Nederostova was named second-team all-conference at No. 4 singles with an 8-3 conference record. UTSA's Isabelle Jonsson earned the No. 2 slot on the second-team with a 9-2 conference mark.

Islanders Sandra Burges and Chelsea Horan teamed up at No. 2 doubles to earn a spot on the second-team after posting a 7-0 record at the position with two additional wins at No. 3 doubles.

The 2012 Southland Conference Women's Tennis Championship begins Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Schlief Tennis Complex in Nacogdoches, Texas. Four opening round matches will be played Thursday with two semifinals to follow on Friday. The championship game will be played at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

2011-12 All-Southland Conference Women's Tennis Teams

First Team All-Southland Conference

Singles School Class Hometown

1 - Maria Martinez-Romero UT Arlington Sr. Nules, Spain

2 - Tatiana Larina Northwestern State Fr. Tagarrog, Russia

3 - Polina Konop Northwestern State So. Kiev, Ukraine

4 - Tatyana Postnikova Sam Houston State Jr. Petropavlovsk, Kazahstan

5 - Antonia Kolovou Stephen F. Austin Jr. Larisa, Greece

6 - Malena Gordo Stephen F. Austin Fr. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Doubles School Class Hometown

1 - Olga Bazhanova/Polina Konop Northwestern State Sr./So. Nikolaev, Ukraine/Kiev, Ukraine

2 - Jithmie Jayawickrema/Alina Shazhko Stephen F. Austin So./Sr. Colombo, Sri Lanka/Simferopol, Ukraine

3 - Mariana Perez/Rachel Baldree Texas State Jr./Fr. Cali, Colombia/Corpus Christi, Texas

Second Team

Singles School Class Hometown

1 - Jessica Kahts Texas State So. Benoni, South Africa

2 - Isabelle Jonsson UTSA So. Eskilstuna, Sweden

3 - Natalia Mayuk UT Arlington Sr. Belgorod, Russia

4 - Andrea Nederostova Northwestern State Jr. Brno, Czech Republic

5 - Alessandra Pennesi Lamar Jr. Caracas, Venezuela

6 - Helene Czudek Lamar So. Mundolsheim, France

Doubles School Class Hometown

1 - Jessica Kahts/Melissa Hadad Texas State So./Jr. Benoni, South Africa/Cali, Colombia

2 - Sandra Burges/Chelsea Horan A&M-Corpus Christi So./Fr. Zaragoza, Spain/San Antonio, Texas

3 - Elena Kordolaimi/Laura Servise Stephen F. Austin Fr./So. Lamia, Greece/Kingsland, Texas

Player of the Year - Maria Martinez-Romero, UT Arlington

Freshman of the Year - Tatiana Larina, Northwestern State

Newcomer of the Year - Carolina Salas, Lamar

Coach of the Year - Patrick Sullivan, Stephen F. Austin

- www.Southland.org -