ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The Great Lakes Valley Conference announced Thursday evening that Lewis University redshirt-sophomore Dora Andrejszki has been named the 2016 GLVC Player of the Year in the sport of women’s tennis. Hanna Volikova of the University of Indianapolis was named GLVC Freshman of the Year, and the Coach of the Year will be awarded to the coach of the tournament’s winning team. This pair was selected by the league coaches and recognized for their efforts at an awards reception on the eve of the 2016 GLVC Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championship Tournament, which begins on Friday in Romeoville, Illinois. A total of 16 student-athletes from both the GLVC East and West Divisions were recognized as All-Conference honorees.
Andrejszki is the third Flyer to earn the league’s top honor as Yuliya Kuznets was a back-to-back winner in 2003 and 2004, and Zsofia Lanstiak went three straight years as the GLVC’s top performer from 2012-14. The redshirt-sophomore went 15-3 in dual matches this spring as only three of her match victories went to three sets. She is ranked 37th in the nation and second in the Midwest Region in singles and finds herself sixth nationally and first regionally in doubles with partner Nora Mindiyarova, playing at No. 1 with an unblemished 18-0 record. The tandem also finished third at the USTA/ITA National Small College Doubles Championships in October. The product of Budapest, Hungary, was a two-time GLVC Player of the Week, earning back-to-back nods on April 12 and 19 and fills a spot on the All-GLVC team.
Volikova joins Andrejszki as an All-GLVC selection, following much success after she took over the No. 1 spot in place of an injured Stephanie Hirsch, who was the 2015 GLVC Player of the Year and twice won the Midwest regional in her first two seasons. Volikova played all but one of her singles matches at No. 1 and all doubles in the first slot, boasting a 14-1 and 13-3 record, respectively. The rookie was named GLVC Player of the Week on March 29 and becomes the third Greyhound to be named a GLVC Freshman of the Year, following in the footsteps of Janik Belisle in 1997 and Gayal Jones in 2000. Additionally, the Yalta, Crimea, native is ranked fourth in the Midwest in singles and third in doubles with partner Florence Renard.
Drury, UIndy and Lewis headline the 16-member All-GLVC squad with three nods apiece. The selections included eight players from both the East and West Divisions. Joining Andrejszki from Lewis is sophomore Mindiyarova and senior Megan Nguyen. Along with Volikova from UIndy are Renard and senior Allie Smith, while Drury is represented by seniors Hadeil Ali and Samanta Zambrano as well as junior Lara Muller. The University of Missouri-St. Louis follows with two spots in the form of freshman Salome Bleuler and senior Renee Verboven. Also making their way onto the list of honorees was reigning GLVC Player of the Week from Bellarmine University freshman Maggie Walroth, 2015 GLVC Freshman of the Year Jane Carter of the University of Illinois Springfield, Maryville University freshman Sarah Etter, Quincy University junior Amy Kuhle and Rockhurst University junior Emma Schelble.
The league also recognized 16 GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award honorees. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These individuals must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. The honorees are now eligible to become one of their school’s two Spalding Sportsmanship Award winners, which will be announced in May.
A complete list of All-GLVC performers and major postseason award winners can be found below.
2016 ALL-GLVC WOMEN’S TENNIS POSTSEASON AWARDS
Maggie Walroth, Fr., BU
Hadeil Ali, Sr., DU
Lara Muller, Jr., DU
Samanta Zambrano, Sr., DU
Jane Carter, So., UIS
Florence Renard, So., UINDY
Allie Smith, Sr., UINDY
Hanna Volikova, Fr., UINDY
Dora Andrejszki, R-So., LEWIS
Eleonra Mindiyarova, So., LEWIS
Megan Nguyen, Sr., LEWIS
Sarah Etter, Fr., MU
Salome Bleuler, Fr., UMSL
Renee Verboven, Sr., UMSL
Amy Kuhle, Jr., QU
Emma Schelble, Jr., RU
2016 GLVC Player of the Year: Dora Andrejszki, So., Lewis
2016 GLVC Freshman of the Year: Hanna Volikova, Fr., Indianapolis
2016 GLVC Coach of the Year: Winner of Tournament
2016 JAMES R. SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP NOMINEES
Caitlin Hanley, BU
Lara Muller, DU
Katelyn Michl, UIS
Allie Smith, UINDY
Dora Andrjszki, LEWIS
Sarah Etter, MU
Kelcie Comley, MCK
Chandler Duchaine, UMSL
Amy Kuhle, QU
Emma Perssons, RU
Tate Hickey, SJC
Jenny Mizikar, USI
Marisa Thome, TSU
Claire Mackay, WJC