Kulicke, Quevedo Garner SLC Major Honors
4/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
FRISCO, Texas -- Stephen F. Austin claimed a pair of Southland Conference major tennis awards, announced today by the league office. Vivienne Kulicke was named the SLC's Freshman of the Year while Dhanielly Quevedo was tabbed the conference's Newcomer of the Year for the 2014-15 season.
Kulicke was also named a first team All-SLC selection in the singles competition with senior teammate Malena Gordo being named a second team All-SLC singles selection. Kulicke and doubles teammate Valeria Terentyeva were also recognized as an All-SLC doubles second team selection.
It marks the first time since Alina Shazhko in 2009 that a Ladyjack has been named the conference's Freshman of the Year and the first time ever SFA has captured the Newcomer of the Year.
Kulicke provided an immediate spark to the Ladyjack roster, posting a 15-4 singles record on the year while posting a perfect 10-0 singles mark in SLC play. The team-leader in victories with 15, Kulicke ended the season as the hottest player of the SFA roster, winning her last seven matches and 11 of the last 12, becoming the first All-SLC first team selection since Gordo in 2012. Kulicke was also a key member of the No. 3 Ladyjack doubles team, teaming up with Valeria Terentyeva to pos a team-best 15-6 mark, including going 9-2 in SLC play.
Quevedo made a key contribution to the SFA roster after transferring from Colorado, compiling an 11-7 record in her first season in Nacogdoches including a 6-4 mark in SLC play. The junior filled in wherever she was needed in the lineup, posting a winning record at each position she played, highlighted by a 3-1 mark at the No. 3 spot. Quevedo teamed up with All-SLC selection Malena Gordo to make up the Ladyjacks' number one doubles team as the duo posted a 12-7 record on the season, including a 6-3 record in SLC competition.
Gordo picked up the fifth All-SLC honors of her career and the third singles all-conference recognition, being named a first team in 2012 and a second team in 2013. The senior had another stellar season for SFA, posting an 11-5 record on the year and a 5-4 mark in SLC play, anchoring the Ladyjacks at the No. 1 position. Along with Quevedo, the duo posted a 12-7 record at the No. 1 doubles, finishing 6-3 in SLC play.
Terentyeva picked up the first SLC honor of her career as she and Kulicke formed one of the toughest double teams in the conference, posting a 9-2 mark at the No. 3 spot. The duo finished the season 15-6 overall on the year as she had a solid performance in singles play as well, recording a 12-6 mark in her junior season while going 7-2 in SLC play, playing primarily the No. 4 and No. 5 positions.
The quartet played pivotal roles in helping SFA clinch a share of the regular season SLC title, the second in program history and first since 2012. The Ladyjacks closed the season with a 16-6 overall record and a 10-1 mark in SLC play, earning the number two overall seed.
SFA opens up the 2015 Southland Conference tournament against seventh-seeded New Orleans this Friday in Beaumont as the semifinal match gets underway at 2 p.m.
2015 All-Southland Conference Honors
First Team Singles
Stephanie Barnett -- Nicholls
Renee Villarreal -- Southeastern Louisiana
Natalya Krutova -- Northwestern State
Vivienne Kulicke -- Stephen F. Austin
Julia Kral -- McNeese State
Klaudia Gawlik -- McNeese State
Second Team Singles
Malena Gordo -- Stephen F. Austin
Isla Brock -- Nicholls
Tatiana Larina -- Northwestern State
Celia Rodriguez -- A&M-Corpus Christi
Nataly Yoo -- Central Arkansas
Maider Martin -- A&M-Corpus Christi
First Team Doubles
Nataly Krutova/Tatiana Larina -- Northwestern State
Brittney Reed/Kaysie Hermsdorf -- Abilene Christian
Stephanie Barnett/Klara Skopac -- Nicholls
Second Team Doubles
Erin Walker/Whitney Williams -- Abilene Christian
Valeria Terentyeva/Vivienne Kulicke -- Stephen F. Austin
Klaudia Gawlik/Anastasija Trubich -- McNeese State
Player of the Year: Stephanie Barnett -- Nicholls
Freshman of the Year: Vivienne Kulicke -- Stephen F. Austin
Newcomer of the Year: Dhanielly Quevedo -- Stephen F. Austin
Coach of the Year: Meenakshi Sundaram -- Nicholls
-SFA-
Players Mentioned
