Bayliss, Kovaleva Record Tennis Player of the Year Honors in Postseason Voting

INDIANAPOLIS – Butler University senior Brandon Bayliss was tabbed the Horizon League Men’s Tennis Player of the Year, while UIC junior Mariya Kovaleva was selected Women’s Tennis Player of the Year for the third consecutive season, in voting of the League’s coaches.  Kovaleva becomes the first player in League women’s tennis history to capture the honor three straight times.

All winners were recognized at the Horizon League Tennis Awards Banquet, held on Thursday night in Indianapolis.

Matt Kuelker of Cleveland State and UIC’s Alex Raa shared Men’s Newcomer of the Year, while Maddy Soule of Milwaukee earned honors on the women’s side.

Cleveland State’s Rob Fox, Emily Lawent of Green Bay and Valparaiso’s Brittany O’Reilly earned recognition as the Herb Foster Sportsmanship Award Winners.

Bayliss went undefeated in Horizon League play at No. 1 singles, compiling a 7-0 mark in helping Butler secure the fifth seed in the Horizon League Tournament.  The senior was a unanimous choice for Player of the Year honors.

Kovaleva also went undefeated at No. 1 singles for UIC, leading the Flames to their 15th straight undefeated League regular season.  Overall, Kovaleva went 15-3 while going 8-0 in League play.

Joining Bayliss on the Men’s All-League First Team were Jan Alafriz of Wright State, Cleveland State’s Yannick Goossens and Rob Fox, Tariq Ismail of Youngstown State and Alex Raa from UIC.

Two Flames joined Kovaleva on the first team, as Teona Tsertsvadze and Ilinca Cristescu received recognition.  Soule represented Milwaukee, while Cleveland State’s Catrine Bjerrehus and Margarita Sadovnikova of Youngstown State composed the squad.

The 2011 Horizon League Tennis Championships are being contested April 21-23 at North Central High School in Indianapolis.  

2011 Men’s Tennis Awards
Player of the Year - Brandon Bayliss, Butler
Newcomers of the Year - Matt Kuelker, Cleveland State; Alex Raa, UIC
Herb Foster Sportsmanship Award - Rob Fox, Cleveland State
Coach of the Year - Mark Thomas, Green Bay

Men’s All-League Teams
First Team
Brandon Bayliss, Butler
Jan Alafriz, Wright State
Yannick Goossens, Cleveland State
Rob Fox, Cleveland State
Tariq Ismail, Youngstown State
Alex Raa, UIC

Second Team
Erik Finkenbrink, Green Bay
Craig Cox, Green Bay
Alex Latosinsky, Detroit
Matt Kuelker, Cleveland State
Chris Herron, Butler
Paul Swanson, Green Bay

2011 Women’s Tennis Awards 
Player of the Year - Mariya Kovaleva, UIC
Newcomer of the Year - Maddy Soule, Milwaukee
Herb Foster Sportsmanship Award - Emily Lawent, Green Bay; Brittany O’Reilly, Valparaiso
Coaches of the Year - Shannon Tully, UIC; Brian Etzkin, Cleveland State

Women’s All-League Teams
First Team
Mariya Kovaleva, UIC
Teona Tsertsvadze, UIC
Maddy Soule, Milwaukee
Catrine Bjerrehus, Cleveland State
Ilinca Cristescu, UIC
Margarita Sadovnikova, Youngstown State

Second Team
Natali Jaimes, Butler
Alex Bush, Cleveland State
Caroline Hedrick, Butler
Carolina Salas Espinosa, Detroit
Kayla Tuscany, Wright State
Elisa Simonetti, UIC