Elon Women’s Tennis Places Three on All-CAA Teams

RICHMOND, Va. – The Elon University women’s tennis team placed three players on the all-conference teams as the Colonial Athletic Association announced the 2017 women’s tennis postseason awards on Tuesday, May 2.

Erica Braschi and Olivia Lucas headlined the awards as they both earned All-CAA Second Team honors for both singles and doubles. Kirsten Ward was named to the nine-member CAA All-Academic Team.

Braschi had a solid campaign for the Phoenix and earned All-CAA singles honors for the second straight year. The Dorado, Puerto Rico native finished the season with 21 total singles wins, including a 15-9 record during the spring. She also collected CAA Player of the Week honors on March 14, after earning her first-career win over a ranked opponent, defeating No. 124-ranked Celia Ruiz of East Carolina. Braschi played all of her matches at the No. 1 position during the spring season.

Lucas earned a spot on the all-conference team in singles for the third consecutive season. After missing most of the fall season, the Greenville, S.C. native finished the spring with a 14-6 record and a 4-1 mark against CAA players primarily and the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. She ended the regular season winning five of her last six singles matches.

In addition, Braschi and Lucas also earned a spot on the All-CAA Second Team for doubles. The pair had a team-best 16-6 record in the spring at the No. 2 position and won five straight matches to close out the year. They also earned CAA Doubles Team of the Week honors on March 11. With the honor, Braschi collects her second-career All-CAA doubles honor and Lucas claims her first.

Rounding out this year’s Elon honorees is Ward, who earned a spot on the All-Academic Team. The Statesville, N.C. native completed the spring season with a 13-7 mark in singles and a 13-8 record in doubles action. She paired with Suzanne Zenoni at the No. 3 doubles position, had a 12-8 record, and earned CAA Doubles Team of the Week honors on April 18.

2017 ALL-CAA WOMEN’S TENNIS TEAMS

First Team
Singles

Mara Argyriou, Col. of Charleston      Sr.       Limassol, Cyprus
Marie Faure, William & Mary            Sr.       Toulouse, France
Timea Guibe, James Madison             Sr.       Noisy le Roi, France
Brooke Pilkington, Delaware            Fr.       Virginia Beach, Va.
Ekaterina Stepanova, William & Mary    Jr.       St. Petersburg, Russia
Madara Straume, UNCW                   Jr.       Jurmala, Latvia

Doubles

Sabrina Barisano, UNCW                 So.       New Rochelle, N.Y.
Madara Straume, UNCW                   Jr.       Jurmala, Latvia
Marie Faure, William & Mary            Sr.       Toulouse, France
Lauren Goodman, William & Mary         So.       Fort Wayne, Ind.
Timea Guibe, James Madison             Sr.       Noisy le Roi, France
Kimmy Herrock, James Madison           Jr.       Tarpon Springs, Fla.

Second Team
Singles

Erica Braschi, Elon                    Jr.        Dorado, Puerto Rico
Rosie Cheng, William & Mary            Fr.        Auckland, New Zealand
Liza Fieldsend, Col. of Charleston     Sr.        New Braunfels, Texas
Sara Komer, Delaware                   So.        Venetia, Pa.
Olivia Lucas, Elon                     Jr.        Greenville, S.C.
Honami Yazawa, Drexel                  Sr.        Tokyo, Japan           

Doubles

Erica Braschi, Elon                    Jr.        Dorado, Puerto Rico
Olivia Lucas, Elon                     Jr.        Greenville, S.C.
A.J. Gomer, Towson                     Jr.        Huntington Beach, Calif.
Renate van Oorschodt, Towson           Jr.        Apeldoorn, Netherlands
Denny LaMachia, Delaware               Gr.        Hopkinton, Mass.
Amanda Studnicki, Delaware             Jr.        Normal, Ill.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Marie Faure, William & Mary
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Brooke Pilkington, Delaware
COACH OF THE YEAR: Laura Travis, Delaware

All-Academic Team

Mara Argyriou, Col. of Charleston      Sr.        Limassol, Cyprus
Maria Groener, William & Mary          Jr.        Oslo, Norway
Denny LaMachia, Delaware               Gr.        Hopkinton, Mass.
Dylan Owens, James Madison             Jr.        Olney, Md.
Alix Theodossiou, UNCW                 Sr.        Asheville, N.C.
Barbora Vasilkova, Towson              Jr.        Bratislavia, Slovakia
Kirsten Ward, Elon                     Jr.        Statesville, N.C.
Jennifer White, Drexel                 Jr.        Gladwyne, Pa.
Disha Yellayi, Hofstra                 So.        Williamsville, N.Y.