The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Evelien Strijker Named To All-Conference USA Third Team
4/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 29, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- For the second year in a row, UAB sophomore women's tennis player Evelien Strijker has been selected to the All-Conference USA Third Team. The C-USA office announced its 2009 all-conference selections on Wednesday, as chosen by the league's 12 head coaches.
Strijker posted an overall singles record of 16-10 for the 2008-09 year, including a 7-5 mark in dual matches at the No. 1 spot in the lineup. She capped her spring campaign with a victory over East Carolina's Jessica Cook in the Conference USA tournament, playing her first match in nearly a month after being sidelined with a stress fracture in her foot.
"I'm proud of Evelien for the season she put together for us," UAB head coach Krissy Hall said. "She played very well this year and always against the opponent's best player. Being named all-conference for two years in a row says a lot about Evelien, and it is a nice recognition for our program, as well."
Strijker also teamed with Paula Alvarez to form UAB's No. 1 doubles team this spring. The duo finished the season with an 8-4 record and won six of their last seven matches together. As a team, UAB completed the spring campaign at 6-9 overall with a perfect 4-0 mark at home.
Prior to her success this spring, the Blazers' top player also posted a strong fall campaign. Strijker went 6-2 during the fall season and advanced to the finals of the A singles flight at the North Florida Fall Invitational, defeating the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds at the tournament.
Strijker was also selected third-team all-conference following her freshman season in 2007-08. UAB has now had at least one women's tennis player receive all-conference honors in each of the past three seasons.
SMU led all teams in the league with four all-conference singles selections, including three first-teamers, while Tulsa and Rice followed with three each. Two of the three all-conference doubles teams also belong to SMU.
All-Conference USA First Team
Marta Lesniak, SMU - ITA No. 59
Kellie Schmitt, Marshall - ITA No. 66
Aleksandra Malyarschikova, SMU - ITA No. 116
Julie Chao, Rice
Natalia Bubien, SMU
Mariam Kurdadze, Tulane
Alexandra Kichoutkin, Tulsa
Marta Lesniak/Aleksandra Malyarschikova, SMU - ITA No. 32
All-Conference USA Second Team
Ashley Murdock, Memphis
Rebekka Hänle, Rice
Thalia Diaz-Barriga, Tulsa
Jenny Frisell, UCF
Weronika Bloczynska, UTEP
Jenny Frisell/Elvira Serrot, UCF - ITA No. 61
Kellie Schmitt/Karolina Soor, Marshall
All-Conference Third Team
Joanna Kacprzyk, Houston
Karolina Soor, Marshall
Ana Guzman, Rice
Nicole Briceno, SMU
Anastasia Erofeeva, Tulsa
Evelien Strijker, UAB
Pavi Francis/Natalia Bubien, SMU - ITA No. 71
