Detroit Names Pjotrs Necajevs Women's Tennis Head Coach
DETROIT -- University of Detroit Mercy Director of Athletics and Associate Vice President Keri Gaither has announced that Pjotrs Necajevs has been named the head coach of the Titan women's tennis program. This marks the eighth time a head coach has been named since the inaugural year of Detroit women's tennis in 1992-93.
“I am thankful to Keri and the Titan family for providing me with this opportunity,” said Necajevs. “We have the resources here to develop a quality program and I will work as hard as I can to develop this program in the right way which includes bringing in local and great lakes talent.”
Necajevs took over as the interim head coach last season. His first match saw Detroit post a 7-0 victory over Valparaiso. Necajevs went on to lead the Titans to a 6-5 dual match record the rest of the way, including a third-place finish in the Horizon League playoffs.
“We are excited to be able to make this announcement,” said Steve Corder Assistant Athletic Director for NCAA Compliance and Men's Tennis Sport Supervisor. “We have full confidence that Pjotrs will consistently have our women's tennis program competing for Horizon League Championships.”
Necajevs began coaching tennis with the Titans during 2010-11 serving as a graduate assistant coach for both the men's and women's teams before being promoted to the interim head coach position on March 24.
Prior to that, Necajevs was a two-year letter winner on Detroit's men's team. He ended his Titan career in 2009-10 as just the third tennis player in Horizon League history to win back-to-back Player of the Year awards after going 30-4 on the year and a perfect 7-0 in the conference. He dominated conference play with six of his seven wins coming in straight-set sweeps. In his Motor City career, he was 55-8 in singles, all from the top position, with a 14-0 record in conference meets.
He was named the team MVP both years and received the 2009 Titan Newcomer award at the annual UDM President's Athletic and Academic Honors Luncheon. Off the court, he was a member of Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC), and earned academic honors by being named to the UDM Athletic Director's Honor Roll twice and also to the Horizon League's Academic Honor Roll. As a senior, he also received the Herb Foster Sportsmanship Award, which recognizes student-athletes who display admirable conduct both on and off the courts.
The Titans finished 6-18 overall in match play last year and 4-4 in Horizon league matches securing the No. 5 seed in the playoffs. The Titans went on to defeat the No. 4 seed Wright State 4-1 and advanced to the semifinals for the fifth straight year. The Titans fell to UIC 4-0 in the semifinal match as the Flames went on to capture their 15th straight women's tennis Horizon League Championship. Detroit ended its season with a 4-2 defeat to Butler in the third-place match.
Detroit will begin this year's dual-match schedule on Jan. 22 with a home contest against Western Michigan to be played at the Franklin Athletic Complex at 8:00 p.m.
