SMU Announces 2013-14 Women's Tennis Award Winners

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

SMU Announces 2013-14 Women's Tennis Award Winners
Dishkova, Erkeeva and Sharapova Honored

May 19, 2014

DALLAS (SMU) - The SMU women's tennis team announced its 2013-14 award winners on Monday, as head coach Kati Gyulai and her staff handed out eight awards to three student-athletes. Sophomores Hristina Dishkova and Yana Erkeeva and freshman Dasha Sharapova were honored. SMU finished this season with a 10-12 overall record and a 2-3 American Athletic Conference mark.

"The awards presentation is a nice way to conclude the season," Gyulai said. "I am very proud of our young team for having persevered through numerous setbacks that we encountered this season."

Dishkova garnered the Perseverance Award (Presented by Athletic Trainer Courtney Hobbs), Mustang Tough Award (Presented by Strength and Conditioning Coach Amber Cortese), Academic Excellence Award, Error Ball Champion and the Kleinmachow, Germany native was named the team's Most Valuable Player.

Dishkova earned the Academic Excellence Award for carrying the highest grade point average (GPA) on the team as the sophomore Business Administration major earned a 3.968 GPA this semester. In addition, Dishkova earned Honor Roll with High Distinction (Top 5%) from SMU for her efforts in the classroom last fall.

On the court, Dishkova had an outstanding season as well as she posted an overall singles record of 20-15 while playing at the No. 1, 2, 3 and 4 spots in the lineup. In doubles, Dishkova posted an overall mark of 17-11 and earned her best record while paired with junior Holly Verner as the duo recorded a 13-5 record including an 8-4 tally at the No. 2 doubles position.

Sharapova was the recipient of the Mach 4 Award (Presented by the teams Sports Psychologist Dr. Anne Smith) and the Sportsmanship Award. The freshman was the lone All-AAC performer for the Mustangs as she finished with an 18-12 overall singles mark while competing at the first four singles spots throughout the season. She tallied her best record in the No. 3 position with mark of 8-3. In doubles, Sharapova posted a 21-7 overall record with four different teammates. She recorded her best mark with sophomore Vaszilisza Bulgakova as they went 11-3 together at the No. 1 doubles position.

Erkeeva earned the Most Improved Award. After finishing her freshman season with a 7-10 singles mark, Erkeeva more than doubled her win total this year as she recorded a 20-9 mark overall. The Moscow, Russia native made a home at the No. 4 singles position as she posted an outstanding mark of 10-3. Her 10 wins at the No. 4 spot was the most by any student-athlete on the squad at any one singles position.

"Congratulations to all the award winners," Gyulai said in closing. "They were all very deserving."

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Congratulations to Hristina, Dasha, and Yana!