Avdeeva's MVP Honors Highlight Postseason Awards Banquet

May 8, 2006

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Following a 14-11 season which culminated with a win over Colorado in the first round of the Big 12 Championships, the University of Kansas tennis team held its annual banquet on Sunday, presenting awards to four student-athletes for their on and off the court accomplishments.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Highlighting the evening was the announcement of the team’s Most Valuable Player Award, which went to Elizaveta Avdeeva. The sophomore, who was named All Big 12 singles and doubles as well as Academic All-Big 12, finished the season with a team-high 20 singles wins, and boasted an 18-7 singles mark in dual play. The Obninsk, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Russia, native also recorded a team-best 21 doubles victories with freshman Ksenia Bukina.

This season’s Most Improved Player honor was given to Edina Horvath. On March 15, the freshman’s singles record stood at a modest 10-10, including two straight conference losses. After that, the Budapest, Hungary, native played the best tennis of anyone on the team, using a nine-match winning streak, along with two other victories, including one over Colorado in the Big 12 Championships, to end her season with a 21-12 mark.

Also honored on Friday was sophomore Lauren Hommell, who was presented with the team’s Hardest Worker Award, and sophomore Stephanie Smith, who was given the Sportsmanship Award.

Christine Skoda, KU’s lone senior, was presented with a commemorative plaque in appreciation for her hard work and dedication throughout her career, and the team’s three freshmen, Horvath, Bukina and Yuliana Svistun, were each given letter jackets.