The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's tennis team put a pair of student-athletes on the 2017 All-Southern Conference Team. Senior Rachele Gazzola and junior Samantha Caswell were both honored by the league today.
Caswell was a second team pick in singles for the second year in a row. She finished with a 13-8 overall record, 11-8 in spring action at No.
1.
Caswell and Gazzola teamed up to earn a spot on the doubles second team. They were 14-5 overall and 12-5 at No. 1 in the spring. This is the second doubles honor for Caswell, who was also on the second team as a freshman in 2015.
"The whole team is very proud of all the success we have had this season," stated UTC head coach Chad Camper, who is wrapping up an outstanding first year with the Mocs.
"Samantha's honor is a testimony to how valuable she has been to this program. She played mostly No. 3 last season, so to come in and play No. 1 all year is not easy.
"Samantha and Rachele had an amazing season in doubles. Again, neither one playing No. 1 doubles last season, and Rachele battling through injuries, really carried our team into doubles points in many 4-3 wins. This was a perfect ending to Rachele's fantastic senior year."
Chattanooga finished with a 14-7 overall record and tied for third at 4-3 in SoCon action. This is the sixth year in a row UTC has won at least 14 matches. The Mocs take on Samford on Friday, April 21, at 10:30 a.m. (E.D.T.) in the quarterfinals of the SoCon Tournament in Greenville, S.C.
2017 SoCon Women's Tennis Postseason Awards
First Team - Singles
Marina Guinart Espana, ETSU
Ioanna Markesini, ETSU
Ansley Speaks, Furman
Danni Vines, Furman
Katia Stavroulaki, Mercer
Ellie Gerlach, Samford
Doubles
Marina Guinart Espana/Ioanna Markesini, ETSU
Ansley Speaks/Aryn Greene, Furman
Danni Vines/Katarina Weymouth, Furman
Second Team - Singles (by position)
No. 1 – Samantha Caswell, Chattanooga
No. 2 – Katarina Weymouth, Furman
No. 3 – Alory Pereira, ETSU
No. 4 – Katarina Kozarov, Furman
No. 5 – Haley Powell, Mercer
No. 6 – Annika Hepp, Samford
Doubles (by position)
No. 1 – Samantha Caswell/Rachele Gazzola, UTC
No. 2 – Lauren McCall/Jordan Strickland, WCU
No. 3 – Katarina Kozarov/Blair Martin, Furman
All-Freshman
Yi Chi Ma, ETSU
Danni Vines, Furman
Katarina Kozarov, Furman
Sophia Adams, UNCG
Elsa Pool, Samford
Jordan Strickland, Western Carolina
Player of the Year
Ansley Speaks, Furman
Freshman of the Year
Danni Vines, Furman
Co-Sportsmanship Award
Jordan Strickland, Western Carolina
Catherine Martin, Wofford
Coach of the Year
Adam Herendeen, Furman
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's tennis student-athlete Niklas Gerdes made the Southern Conference All-Freshman Team, the league office announced today.
Gerdes finished with an 8-11 overall singles record this spring. He was 12-5 in doubles, including a 5-0 mark with fellow freshman Simon Bustamante at No. 2.
"This year's class of talented freshmen in the Southern Conference was one of the deepest in recent memory," stated UTC head coach Carlos Garcia. This is a well-deserved honor for Niklas and I am so grateful for all of his hard work, both on and off the court."
UTC takes on ETSU in the first round of the SoCon Tournament on Friday, April 21, in Greenville, S.C.