Kovaleva Earns Fourth Straight Player of the Year Honor as Tennis Awards Announced

INDIANAPOLIS – For the fourth straight season, UIC senior Mariya Kovaleva was voted the Horizon League Women’s Tennis Player of the Year, while Wright State senior Martin Arguello collected Men’s Tennis Player of the Year accolades, in voting of the League’s coaches.  Kovaleva becomes the first player in League women’s tennis history to capture the honor four straight seasons.

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

Austin Woldmoe of Butler was voted the Men’s Newcomer of the Year, while Youngstown State’s Marta Burak earned honors on the women’s side.

Valparaiso’s Adam Whitmer and Morgan Weuve of Green Bay were honored with the Herb Foster Sportmanship Award at the banquet.

Leading Wright State to its first men’s tennis regular season crown, head coach Sean McCaffrey earned Men’s Coach of the Year accolades. For guiding Milwaukee to its best record in program history, Sean McInerney collected the honors on the women’s side.

Arguello anchored the No. 1 singles spot for Wright State this season, going 6-1 in Horizon League play en route to a 15-7 overall mark.

Kovaleva went undefeated at No. 1 singles for UIC, leading the Flames to their 16th straight undefeated League regular season.  Overall, Kovaleva went 13-5 while going 8-0 in League play.

Joining Arguello on the first team were the Green Bay tandem of Paul Swanson and Michael Tenzer, Cleveland State’s Yannick Goossens, Silviu Mistreanu of Youngstown State and Woldmoe.

Kovaleva was joined on the first team by teammate Teona Tsertsvadze, Maddy Soule of Milwaukee, Butler’s Caroline Hedrick, Catrine Bjerrehus of Cleveland State and Burak.

The 2012 Horizon League Tennis Championships are being contested April 27-29 at North Central High School in Indianapolis.  

2012 Men’s Tennis Awards
Player of the Year - Martin Arguello, Wright State            
Newcomer of the Year - Austin Woldmoe, Butler
Herb Foster Sportsmanship Award - Adam Whitmer, Valparaiso               
Coach of the Year - Sean McCaffrey, Wright State           

Men’s All-League Teams
First Team
Martin Arguello, Wright State
Paul Swanson, Green Bay
Yannick Goossens, Cleveland State
Austin Woldmoe, Butler
Silviu Mistreanu, Youngstown State
Michael Tenzer, Green Bay

Second Team
James Li, UIC
Lauri Makikalli, Wright State
Cesar Serrano Escobar, Detroit
Erik Finkenbrink, Green Bay
Matt Kuelker, Cleveland State
Hayden Joblin, Wright State

2012 Women’s Tennis Awards
Player of the Year - Mariya Kovaleva, UIC
Newcomer of the Year - Marta Burak, Youngstown State             
Herb Foster Sportsmanship Award - Morgan Weuve, Green Bay              
Coach of the Year - Sean McInerney, Milwaukee            

Women’s All-League Teams
First Team
Mariya Kovaleva, UIC
Maddy Soule, Milwaukee
Marta Burak, Youngstown State
Teona Tsertsvadze, UIC
Caroline Hedrick, Butler
Catrine Bjerrehus, Cleveland State

Second Team
Maria Lazaris, Cleveland State
Haley Craig, UIC
Elisa Simonetti, UIC
Lauren Hankle, Youngstown State
Chelsea Bailey, Milwaukee
Stephanie McLoughlin, Butler