Conference

To view 2009 All-Conference Team, click here.

For the third straight year, Sacramento State claimed both the men’s and women’s MVP Awards. Junior Katrina Zheltova received the honors for the third time in her career and sophomore Kiryl Harbatsiuk won his first MVP award. The all-conference team and awards were selected by the league’s head coaches.

Zheltova was named the MVP despite missing 11 matches during the season because of an injury. The native of Minsk, Belarus went 12-4 overall at Sacramento State’s No. 1 singles spot and was undefeated in five conference matches. She had a 12-2 record at the top doubles spot with partner Melissa Valenzuela.

Zheltova received first-team accolades for the third consecutive year. She is currently ranked No. 84 in the nation by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. All four of her losses this season came at the hands of other nationally-ranked opponents. Before being injured at the beginning of the season, Zheltova was ranked No. 58.

The Hornets continued to dominate the Big Sky by winning their eighth straight league title last week. Zheltova was joined on the first team by freshman Maria Meliuk. Meliuk, also from Minsk, Belarus, notched a 15-6 record this season at the No. 1, 2 and 3 singles spots. She was named the Big Sky Player of the Week four times in 2009.

Northern Arizona sophomores Orsi Golovics and Edit Suhajda were each named to the first team

for the second straight year. Golovics went 13-7 overall and Suhajda compiled an 8-14 record. Montana State finished the season in second place and also landed two players on the first team, in sophomore Stephanie Jasper and freshman Missy Harris. Jasper received the honors for the second year in a row. She went 13-7 at the Bobcats’ top spot and Harris went 15-2, playing primarily at the No. 2 singles.

Montana’s Liz Walker and Northern Colorado’s Tabatha Knop completed the first team. Walker had a 13-7 overall and 6-2 conference mark at the No. 1 singles spot. She was named the Player of the Week three times. Knop helped the Bears earn a berth to their second straight championship. The senior had a 9-11 record at the top singles spot.

Kiryl Harbatsiuk was named this year’s men’s MVP. He also placed on the first team for the second straight year. The native of Minsk, Belarus went an impressive 21-4 overall, playing primarily at the Hornets’ No. 1 singles spot. Harbatsiuk was also undefeated in conference play. The Hornets claimed the regular-season and tournament titles.

Sacramento State placed three total players on the first team for the second year in a row. Anton Stryhas and freshman Jason Smith join Harbatsiuk. Stryhas, a junior, earned his third straight first team honors. He went 14-5 in singles play and teamed up with Harbatsiuk at the No. 1 doubles for a 15-6 record. Smith notched an 18-7 singles record in his first season with the Hornets.

Eastern Washington senior Pannhara Mam was named to the first team for the fourth consecutive year. Teammate Kyle Schraeder earned the accolades for a third straight year, and Nico Riego de Dios was named to the first team for the second year in a row. Schraeder, a senior, went 15-10 overall this season and Mam went 6-3. Riego de Dios recorded a 17-9 singles record playing at the No. 1 and 2 singles.

Northern Arizona’s Andrew Reiff and Weber State’s Simon Unger rounded out the men’s first team. Reiff, a freshman, played at the No. 1 and 2 singles spot in the Lumberjacks’ lineup this season. He complied a 15-9 overall record. Unger, also a freshman, went 13-5 at the No. 2 singles .