Roster

|

Schedule

|

Coaching Staff

|

News

|

Statistics

|

Photos

|

Archives

|

Other Links Facilities Camp Information

April 29, 2008

IRVING, Texas (SMU/C-USA)--The SMU women's tennis team was honored with several All-Conference awards, as announced by the league Tuesday. Natalia Bubien garnered first-team accolades, while Pavi Francis was named second team. Bubien and Francis were selected to the All-Conference Doubles Team and Nicole Briceno was named Newcomer of the Year.

Briceno, a sophomore transfer from Alabama went 9-8 this spring, including a 4-1 mark at the No. 3 singles spot. She closed the season on a three-match winning streak in singles and defeated league foes Tulsa, Houston and Southern Miss. In doubles, Briceno went 13-7 overall, but was an impressive 10-2 at the No. 2 spot with partner Kseniia Tokarieva before Tokarieva went down with an injury. Before the injury broke up the tandem, they had been ranked as high as No. 38 after taking out the then-No. 21 pair from Duke.

Bubien was ranked as high as 73rd in the country in the ITA polls this spring. She compiled a 12-8 (.600) record at No. 1 singles this season, defeating then-38th-ranked Kelcy Tefft of Notre Dame in straight sets and beating opponents from Southern Miss, Arkansas State, Notre Dame, Louisville, Oklahoma State, Brown and Harvard. Bubien was named C-USA Player of the Week on Feb. 12 for her efforts.

Francis notched a 12-7 (.632) record, including an 8-6 (.571) mark at No. 2 and a 4-1 (.800) mark at No. 3 this season She defeated opponents from Southern Miss, Louisiana-Lafayette, Arkansas State, UNLV, TCU, Houston, NC State and Brown. Among her achievements this spring, Francis played four matches of three sets and won all four.

Bubien and Francis paired at No. 1 doubles and first entered the ITA rankings after defeating the No. 1 doubles pair in the country. The duo is currently ranked No. 42 in the polls, after winning their last eight straight matches. The tandem compiled a team-best 15-4 record this season, with their only losses coming to Harvard, the then-5th-ranked pair from Duke, the then-11th-ranked pair from TCU and a pair from Texas Tech.

2008 Conference USA Women's Tennis Postseason Awards

All-Conference USA First Team
Kellie Schmitt, Marshall - ITA No. 55
Alexandra Kichoutkin, Tulsa - ITA No. 98
Natalia Bubien, SMU - ITA No. 111
Julie Chao, Rice
Thalia Diaz-Barriga, Tulsa
Dominique Karas, Rice

All-Conference USA Second Team
> Ali Blackett, Southern Miss
Pavi Francis, SMU
Ashley Murdock, Memphis
Leila Salek, Houston
Elvira Serrot, UCF
Karolina Soor, Marshall

All-Conference Third Team
Weronika Bloczynska, UTEP
Nicole Briceno, SMU
Jenny Frisell, UCF
Mireia Gol, East Carolina
Rebecca Row, Tulsa
Evelein Strijker, UAB

All-Conference USA Doubles Team
Kellie Schmitt / Karolina Soor, Marshall - ITA No. 28
Natalia Bubien / Pavi Francis, SMU - ITA No. 42
Julie Chao / Dominique Karas, Rice

Coach of the Year: Dean Orford, Tulsa
Player of the Year: Kellie Schmitt, Marshall - ITA No. 55
Freshman of the Year: Alexandra Kichoutkin, Tulsa - ITA No. 98
Newcomer of the Year: Nicole Briceno, SMU

Outstanding Singles Player of the Championship
Alexandra Kichoutkin, Tulsa

Outstanding Doubles Team of the Championship
Kellie Schmitt / Karolina Soor, Marshall - ITA No. 28

SMU, the only Division I athletic program in Dallas, Texas, sponsors 17 sports and has been ranked as the top school in its conference for 10 of the last 11 years in the Director's Cup overall athletic rankings. More information about SMU and its coaches, student-athletes and teams is available at www.SMUMustangs.com.