May 23, 2005

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Five members of Tulane's Sweet Sixteen women's tennis team were named to the All-Louisiana Women's Tennis team and head coach David Schumacher was named Coach of the Year the Louisiana Sports Writers Association announced on Sunday.

Under the guidance of Schumacher, who was also named the Conference USA Coach of the Year and Coach of the Decade, Tulane earned its highest ranking in school history (No. 9), won its third straight Conference USA championship and made its second consecutive trip to the Sweet Sixteen. The Wave posted a mark of 25-6 and took a 17-match winning streak to the Sweet 16, which was the second-longest streak in the nation.

Senior Maria Ivanov was the lone first-team selection from the Green Wave roster while Jenny Kuehn, Darya Ivanov, Julie Smekodub and Nancy Kockott were all second-team selections.

Tulane's No. 1 player, Maria Ivanov was a first-team All-Conference USA pick and has been ranked as high as 28th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) doubles rankings with her sister, Darya. Named the Outstanding Doubles Team of the Conference USA Tournament, the Ivanov duo opens play in the NCAA Doubles Championship on Tuesday.

Sophomore Darya Ivanov, a two-time all-league second team selection, led the squad in singles wins with 25 after an 18-7 spring season. The Adelaide, Australia native earned C-USA Player of the Week honors twice and was ranked as high as No. 64 in singles.

Kuehn, who is competing in the 2005 NCAA Singles Championship this week, was also a first-team all-conference selection and has been ranked as high as No. 37 in singles and No. 29 in doubles with partner Julie Smekodub. As Tulane's No. 2 doubles team, Kuehn and Smekodub ended their season on a 17-match winning streak and finished the year with a mark of 23-3.

In singles play, second-team All-C-USA pick Smekodub posted her second consecutive 20-win season, wrapping up the year at 20-7, playing primarily at No. 3. Tulane's No. 5 player, senior Nancy Kockott, a member of the All-C-USA third team, compiled a mark of 18-12 in her final season and had been ranked as high as No. 49 nationally by the ITA.

The Green Wave's season ended last Thursday with a 4-1 loss to No. 3 Kentucky in the NCAA Round of 16.

2005 All-Louisiana Women's Tennis First Team
(listed in order of votes received)
Anja Schmidt, Centenary
Emilija Arnaudovska, Southeastern Louisiana
Dominique Bell, Xavier
Madeleine Hakansson, McNeese State
Ann Grobbelaar, McNeese State
Maria Ivanov, Tulane

All-Louisiana Second Team
Jenny Kuehn, Tulane
Darya Ivanov, Tulane
Julie Smekodub, Tulane
Marina Gando, McNeese State
Nancy Kockott, Tulane
Lucie Mazinova, UNO

Player of the Year: Anja Schmidt, Centenary
Newcomer of the Year: Ann Grobbelaar, McNeese State
Freshman of the Year: Emilija Arnaudovska, Southeastern Louisiana
Coach of the Year: David Schumacher, Tulane