INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced Thursday that Drury University senior Nastasia Jedrychowski has been named the GLVC Player of the Year in the sport of women’s tennis. Additionally, University of Indianapolis’ María Fiacan was voted GLVC Freshman of the Year and the Coach of the Year will be awarded to the coach of the GLVC Tournament’s winning team.
In all, a total of 17 student-athletes – eight from the East and West Divisions, as well as a tie – were recognized as All-Conference honorees, while 12 were named GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award honorees and Drury University was honored with the GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Team Award. Major award winners and All-GLVC teams are voted on by the league’s head coaches.
Player of the Year: Nastasia Jedrychowski, Sr., Drury
- Earns Drury’s fifth Player of the Year laurel and is the first to win it since the Panthers claimed four-straight, starting in 2005.
- Went 12-4 overall and 5-0 in GLVC action at No. 1 singles.
- Ranked 32nd in ITA Division II singles
- Partnered with Alma Abazi at both No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, going 2-1 and 10-3, respectively.
- Helped Panthers go 13-4 overall and 5-0 in GLVC action to claim the West Division title and top divisional seed in the GLVC Tournament.
- Named GLVC Athlete of the Week on April 4.
- Earns third-straight selection to All-GLVC First Team.
Freshman of the Year: María Fiacan, Indianapolis
- Fourth Greyhound to be named GLVC Freshman of the Year in the last five years and eighth overall.
- Went 12-6 overall and 4-1 in GLVC action, playing a combination of all positions except No. 1.
- Partnered with four different teammates at both No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, collecting a record of 10-8 overall.
- Helped UIndy to East Division title and top divisional seed in the GLVC Tournament.
- Named GLVC Athlete of the Week on April 18.
- Earns spot on All-GLVC First Team.
Coach of the Year: Winner of the Tournament
- The Coach of the Year award will be presented to the coach of the team that wins the GLVC Tournament.
UIndy headlines the 17-member All-GLVC squad with four nods, while Drury, Lewis University, and Southwest Baptist University follow with three each. Rockhurst University earned two honorees, and both McKendree University and Quincy University had one.
The selections include eight players each from the East and West Divisions, as well as one tie in the West. Joining Jedrychowski from Drury was Clara Kuehnle and Ewa Samberger. Also tabbed on the team from UIndy with Fiacan was Margarita Andreiuk, Lea Cakarevic, and Anna Novikova. The three Flyers included Benedetta Luccone, Anastasiya Salenko, and Casey Smith. Paula Ballesteros, Ghada Dirninger, and Elsa Pascual represented SBU’s trio. Rockhurst’s pair of honorees were comprised of Marina Magai and Sofia Valedespino, while McKendree’s Manuela Barriga and Quincy’s Varvara Griva rounded out the First Team.
The league also recognized Drury as its GLVC Women’s Tennis James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award team recipient, as well as 12 student-athletes 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 the 2023 All-GLVC teams and postseason honorees can be found below.
GLVC PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Nastasia Jedrychowski, Sr., Drury
GLVC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: María Fiacan, Fr., Indianapolis
GLVC COACH OF THE YEAR: Winner of Tournament
ALL-GLVC FIRST TEAM
Nastasia Jedrychowski, Sr., DU #
Clara Kuehnle, Sr., DU
Ewa Samberger, So., DU
Margarita Andreiuk, Fr., UINDY
Lea Cakarevic, So., UINDY
María Fiacan, Fr., UINDY
Anna Novikova, Gr., UINDY #
Benedetta Luccone, Fr., LEWIS
Anastasiia Salenko, Gr., LEWIS
Casey Smith, Jr., LEWIS
Manuela Barriga, Sr., MCK
Varvara Griva, Gr., QU
Marina Magai, Fr., RU
Sofia Valdespino, Fr., RU
Paula Ballesteros, So., SBU
Ghada Dirninger, So., SBU
Elsa Pascual, Jr., SBU
#Unanimous selection
* Extra Member Due to Tie
GLVC JAMES R. SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP HONOREES
Ewa Samberger, DU
Riann Hsu, UIS
Maria Fiacan, UINDY
Anastasiaa Salenko, LEWIS
Nazli Saka, MU
Maria Salomao, MCK
Anna Favaron, UMSL
Mahi Panchal, QU
Andrea Dabbah, RU
Paula Ballesteros, SBU
Julia Fangman, TSU
Elsie Crawford, WJC
GLVC JAMES R. SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM AWARD
Drury