TECH'S WHITNEY SIMMONS NAMED A REPEAT SECOND-TEAM
ALL-GSC WEST DIVISION SELECTION

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech junior Whitney Simmons was named a repeat Second-Team All-Gulf South Conference West Division Women’s Tennis selection by the league on Friday.

The All-GSC teams are voted on by the league’s head coaches in their own respective divisions and the coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.

Simmons, a native of Pottsville, Ark., was the only Golden Sun Tennis player honored by the league. Last season, she was also named a Second-Team West Division All-GSC honoree.

“I’m very proud for Whitney to be recognized by the coaches in our division for her play this season,” Golden Suns Head Tennis Coach Abby Davis said.

In addition to releasing the All-GSC teams on Friday, the league handed out its individual honors as Ouachita Baptist’s Catalina Cruz swept both the major awards as she was named the GSC West Division’s Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. Meanwhile, in the East Division, West Florida’s Suzana Cavalcante was named the East Division’s Player of the Year and North Alabama’s Mallory Waites was named the East Division Freshman of the Year.

Simmons, who was one of four returning players this season for Tech, posted a 12-13 overall record in singles play and was 3-3 in singles action in GSC matches. In addition, she posted a combined 10-18 record in doubles, playing at both No. 2 and No. 3 doubles positions. In GSC matches, she teamed with junior Renee Malcuit (Lakeside, Calif.) to go 2-3 at No. 3 doubles. On the season, Simmons played mostly No. 5 singles and posted a 5-8 record, including that 3-3 mark in GSC matches. Simmons’ 12 wins in singles play was second-best on the team this past year. Since the beginning of the 2005-06 season, Simmons has combined to win 25 singles matches and 18 doubles matches.

Joining Simmons on the West Division Second-Team were Henderson State’s threesome of Meredith Massey, Tara Meier and Megan Harness, along with Delta State’s Lisa Ortola, Harding’s Lola Pardo, Ouachita Baptist’s Natalia Drada and Southern Arkansas’ Megan Phinny.

 In addition to Cruz on the All-GSC West Division First Team, the team consisted of Delta State teammates Milena Araujo, Agnes Koch and Paula Uchida, along with Harding teammates Alicia Williams, Karina Gomes and Milena Chisaca. The other two members were Henderson State’s Iustina Gasca-Silva and Southern Arkansas’ Rachel Vinsant.

Cavalcante was joined on the East Division First-Team by her UWF teammates, Tammy Kevey, Mandy Septoe and Renata Mattos, along with Valdosta State teammates Raphaella Durante, Dominique Rothlaender, Anna Corten and Natali Gumbrecht. The final member of the first-team was North Alabama’s Yuliya Zelenskaya.

Waites was joined on the All-GSC East Division Second-Team by her UNA teammate, Lori Colby. Other second-team member included Alabama-Huntsville’s Mireia Fernandez and Montevallo’s Shasta Brown.

2006-07 All-GSC Women's Tennis Teams

-- Tech Athletics --