April 25, 2013
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame junior Britney Sanders has been named the unanimous BIG EAST Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Year, the league office announced Thursday. Head coach Jay Louderback was tabbed as BIG EAST Coach of the Year for the fourth consecutive season.
Sanders (Ontario, Calif./Ontario Christian) copped the honor after posting a 23-13 singles record and a 23-12 doubles mark during her first season at the number one position in the Notre Dame lineup. She also logged a perfect 3-0 tournament record at first singles to key Notre Dame’s BIG EAST Championship win last weekend in Tampa, Fla.
Sanders claimed BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Player recognition after defeating ranked foes Matea Cutura (No. 84, DePaul) 3-6, 7-6, 6-1 and Katie Vasenina (No. 103, USF) 7-6, 7-5 in her final two matches, leading the Irish to the program’s sixth straight conference title.
An all-BIG EAST selection as a sophomore in 2012, Sanders reached a season and career-high slot of 47th in the April 23 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Women’s National Singles Rankings. She is the fifth straight Notre Dame player to be tabbed BIG EAST Player of the Year, joining Shannon Mathews (2012), two-time winner Kristy Frilling (2010-11) and Irish assistant coach Kelcy Flores (2009).
Louderback earned conference coach of the year honors for the 11th time after guiding Notre Dame to a 17-8 record, its 13th overall BIG EAST Championship and a ranking of 23rd in the most recent ITA poll. The Irish will make their 20th appearance at the NCAA Team Championship during Louderback’s 24-year career as the program’s head coach.
Joining Sanders on the all-BIG EAST team were junior captain Jennifer Kellner and freshman Quinn Gleason. Kellner (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) posted a 17-12 singles mark this season, including a 15-9 record in dual matches, and was also 21-9 in doubles competition. Gleason (Mendon, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) led all Notre Dame players with a 24-8 record in singles, including a sparkling 20-4 mark in dual play, and added a 21-10 doubles slate.
Notre Dame placed at least three players on the 12-member all-conference team, which adopted its current format following the 2009 season, for the fifth consecutive year.
2013 BIG EAST Women’s Tennis Awards
All-BIG EAST Team
Matea Cutura, Fr., DePaul *
Patricia Fargas, So., DePaul
Julia Fellerhoff, Jr., Louisville
Becca Shine, Jr., Louisville
Quinn Gleason, Fr., Notre Dame
Jennifer Kellner, Jr., Notre Dame
Britney Sanders, Jr., Notre Dame *
Nevena Selakovic, Sr., St. John’s *
Chloe Sher, Jr., Seton Hall
Katie Vasenina, Sr., USF *
Maddie Kobelt, Jr., Syracuse
Amanda Rogers, So., Syracuse *
Player of the Year
Britney Sanders, Jr., Notre Dame *
Freshman of the Year
Matea Cutura, DePaul
Coach of the Year
Jay Louderback, Notre Dame
*unanimous selection
–ND–