April 15, 2009

KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State freshman Vera Shkundina added to her collection of Atlantic Sun Conference awards after being named to both the All-Conference First team and the All-Freshman team in a statement released by the conference office on Wednesday.

"We are very proud of Vera for earning these honors and for her tremendous play all season," said Kennesaw State Head Coach Brandon Padgett on Shkundina's selections. "She definitely deserves recognition after coming in so young and performing at the level she did."

Shkundina, who was the first KSU player to be named A-Sun Player of the Week, was a unanimous selection for the All-Freshman team and one of only two freshmen to be named First Team All Conference. She became the first Owl to be selected to the All-Conference team and is the Black and Gold's second-straight All-Freshman team selection, joining Ayano Tanaka who earned the honor last season.

The recently turned 17-year-old Russian played well beyond her years for the entirety of the season, winning her first collegiate tournament draw without dropping a set en route to a 25-7 season record. The A2 front draw win at the Steve Baras set the tone for a 10-3 fall season.

Shkundina responded with the same level poise while playing at the top spot in the spring dual match season, going 4-0 in the Owls opening doubleheader to earn her POTW selection.

Her stellar play continued into conference play, where she tallied a 6-2 record; her only losses coming at the hands of last season's Player of the Year, Anna Novo, and the 2008-09 Freshman of the Year, Aline Berkenbrock. She finished strong, winning her last five matches and eight of her last 10.

"Watching Vera grow this season and seeing her mature has been a pleasure," added Padgett. "Her solid presence at the top of both lineups was key in a number of our wins, and in our overall improvement this season."

All of Shkundina's singles totals set Kennesaw State Division I records and were vital in the Owls success this season. The team set new D-I marks with an 11-9 overall record and a 6-3 conference record. The fifth place finish in the A-Sun is the best since the school began the transition three seasons ago.

"Though Vera's play at the top of the lineup was vital to our success, a number of other players deserve recognition for their play this season," concluded Padgett. "I am proud of the way our entire program, both women and men, handled themselves this season."

2009 Women's Tennis Postseason Awards
* - unanimous selection

Player of the Year Yevgeniya Stupak, ETSU
Freshman of the Year Aline Berkenbrock, UNF
Coach of the Year Sasha Schmid, Stetson

First-Team All-Conference
* Yevgeniya Stupak, ETSU
* Tara Byrne, ETSU
Vera Shkundina, Kennesaw State
Tatiana Soldatova, Jacksonville
* Anna Novo, USC Upstate
* Valentina Galbarini, Stetson
Raquel Castro, UNF
Aline Berkenbrock, UNF

Second-Team All Conference
Singles
No. 1 Priscilla Villemond, FGCU
No. 2 Eva Sambrano, FGCU
No. 3 Karina Kedzo, ETSU
No. 4 Paula Jaime, ETSU
No. 5 Cinthya Lazaro, USC Upstate
No. 6 Fernanda Carrera, Jacksonville and Ana-Sofia Camberos, USC Upstate

Doubles
No. 1 Tatiana Pozo/Whitnie Warren, Belmont
No. 2 Ina Durcakova/Nikita van Lierop, UNF
No. 3 Lauren Holton/Victoria Krook, UNF

All-Freshman Team
Borislava Nikolova, Campbell
* Karina Kedzo, ETSU
Paula Jaime, ETSU
* Vera Shkundina, Kennesaw State
Cinthya Lazaro, USC Upstate
Ana-Sofia Camberos, USC Upstate
Shannon Gunning, Stetson
* Aline Berkenbrock, UNF