ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Following an outstanding season, where she compiled a 23-12 singles record at the No. 1 spot and a 21-11 overall doubles record with both partners Tjasa Suvak and Sandy Lukowski, freshman Maja Kovacek has been honored with the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Central Region Rookie of the Year award. The last time a UNM freshman was recognized by the I.T.A. was in 1997 when Ana Friganovic won the same award.
Kovacek was chosen from a group of three other talented freshmen to win the prestigious title. Daniela Muscolino of Tulsa, Suzana Maksovic of Denver and MWC rival player Hadley Macfarlane of BYU were all in the running for Rookie of the Year.
As well, Kovacek was one of three Lobo players honored with individual awards on Friday at the squads annual end-of-season dinner. She won the teams Most Wins award for her combined 44 singles and doubles victories. Tjasa Suvak received the honor last year for her 40 wins.
Sophomore Michelle Heidbrink was named Most Improved, after finishing the season with a 20-11 singles record which betters her freshman mark of 18-15. Heidbrink also completed the year with an outstanding 17-7 doubles record, earned with partner Tiffany Robertson. In 2002, Heidbrink had a doubles record of 15-11.
Junior Maria Ruiz-Fabrega earned the Spirit Award for her outstanding attitude both on and off the court. The Highest GPA honor will be decided at the end of the school year when final grades have been released.
The No. 55 UNM womens tennis team finished the season with an overall mark of 15-9 and a 5-2 record in the MWC, grabbing third place behind top-30 teams San Diego State and UNLV. At the MWC Championships, the three-seeded Lobos downed Air Force 4-0 in the quarterfinals before falling 4-1 to the No. 27 SDSU Aztecs in a semi-final match.
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