WAC 2023 Women’s Tennis Award Winners Announced
ARLINGTON, Texas – The major award winners and all-conference teams for the 2023 WAC women’s tennis season were revealed on Wednesday. Tarleton’s Emma Persson was named WAC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year and Diego Benitez from UT Arlington earned Coach of the Year honors.
Persson earned a 14-6 record in singles and a 9-9 record in doubles playing primarily in the number one position for Tarleton during the season. She compiled a 6-1 showing in matches at the second court and took home a combined three monthly/weekly awards during the season. Persson’s match point helped clinch six different Tarleton team victories during the season.
Benitez led UTA to a 17-3 regular season and an 8-1 record to secure the regular-season conference championship. The Mavericks were winners in 11 of their final 12 matches leading into the conference tournament, with eight of their wins on the season in straight sets.
Grand Canyon and UTA led all teams with three singles all-conference selections, with GCU and Tarleton each having two players named to the first team. UTA added two doubles pairs to the top all-conference squad.
2023 WAC Women’s Tennis Awards
WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Emma Persson, Fr., Tarleton
WOMEN'S FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Emma Persson, Tarleton
WOMEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR
Diego Benitez, UT Arlington
WOMEN'S SINGLES ALL-CONFERENCE
First Team
Natasha Puehse, Grand Canyon
Santa Strombacha, Grand Canyon
Anna Pinaieva, NM State
Elsa Boisson, Tarleton
Emma Persson, Tarleton
Ana Paula Jimenez, UT Arlington
Second Team
Maria Cascos, Abilene Christian
Madeline Lamoreaux, Grand Canyon
Lisa Zhu, NM State
Tara Gorinsek, UT Arlington
Sarina Reinersten, UT Arlington
Marjorie Souza, UTRGV
WOMEN'S DOUBLES ALL-CONFERENCE
First Team
Natasha Puehse/Santa Strombacha, Grand Canyon
Tara Gorinsek/Ana Paula Jimenez, UT Arlington
Sarina Reinertsen/Liz Chileno, UT Arlington
Second Team
Anali Kocevar/Madeline Lamoreaux, Grand Canyon
Bella Nguyen/Miranda Bishard, NM State
Lea Karren/Barbara Martinez, UTRGV
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