Avdeeva, Bukina Garner All-Big 12 Honors

May 1, 2006

LAWRENCE, Kan. — University of Kansas sophomore Elizaveta Avdeeva and freshman Ksenia Bukina were each named to the All-Big 12 Tennis singles team, and together, the duo was awarded All-Big 12 doubles honors , the conference office announced on Monday.

Avdeeva, who occupied the No. 2 singles position for the Jayhawks throughout the spring, went 18-7 in dual matches in the regular season and Big 12 Championships combined. Her seven conference wins were tied for third-most in the No. 2 slot in the league, and her two wins against ranked opponents tied with Bukina for tops on the team. Near the midpoint point this season, the Obninsk, Russia, native reeled off 11 straight victories, which was the longest streak by any Jayhawk this year.

As just a freshman, Bukina started the spring in the No. 1 singles position for KU, and never relinquished her spot, going 10-13 in dual match play. Bukina, who also hails from Obninsk, Russia, faced a brutal slew of opponents all season, and tallied two victories over ranked foes. She was one of only two KU players to compete in just one position in singles play all season.

Though Avdeeva’s and Bukina’s individual accomplishments are impressive, they may have been most potent on the courts while playing together in doubles competition. The tandem’s Big 12 record of 8-3 was the best in the league at the No. 1 position, and their 20 combined fall and spring victories were by far the most on the team. From March 12 to April 2, the two won seven straight matches, and in KU’s tilt against Texas A&M, the duo picked up the Jayhawks’ only doubles victory, 9-8 (7), over the Aggies’ 28th-ranked team of Clifford and Foster.

Avdeeva and Bukina join 11 other student-athletes on the All-Big 12 singles team, including Player of the Year Zuzana Zemenova from Baylor.

The duo was also one of just six tandems to be named to the All-Big 12 doubles team.

Click here to view the entire 2006 All-Big 12 Tennis team.