RICHMOND, Va. – Elon University head women’s tennis coach Elizabeth Anderson was named Coach of the Year and the Phoenix placed three on the All-Conference teams as the Colonial Athletic Association announced the 2016 women’s tennis postseason awards on Wednesday, April 20.
Anderson is currently in her 12th season at the helm and earned her first-career conference Coach of the Year award. Under her guidance, the team posted a 13-9 overall record this season and the team is on an eight match-winning streak entering the CAA Championships. The Phoenix also finished the season with a 5-1 mark against conference opponents.
Elon had three players earn spots on the All-Conference teams. Olivia Lucas and Erica Braschi earned first team honors in singles, Braschi and her doubles partner Taylor Casey were named to the second team in doubles, and Casey was placed on the All-Academic team.
“We are very honored for our players to recognized by the conference,” said coach Anderson. “The individual awards are a reflection of the hard work of the entire team and teammates pushing each other to improve on a daily basis.”
Elon sophomores Lucas and Braschi headlined the All-Conference teams for the maroon and gold, earning first-team All-CAA honors in singles following strong campaigns at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions respectively.
Lucas earned her second consecutive CAA singles first team honor and enters this week’s CAA Women’s Tennis Championship with an overall singles record of 11-9 this season. The native of Greenville, S.C. is riding a seven match-winning streak in singles play entering the championships. Lucas was also named CAA Player of the Week on April 5.
Braschi has had a tremendous campaign for the Phoenix, posting a 15-4 mark in singles play and earned CAA Co-Player of the Week honors on March 22. Braschi is currently on an incredible 11-match winning streak in singles action and has primary played at the No. 2 position this season.
Rounding out this year’s Elon honorees is senior Taylor Casey, who was named to the CAA second team in doubles with Braschi and earned a spot on the All-Academic Team for 2016. The Duluth, Ga. native completed the regular season with six singles victories and had a 7-6 record in doubles action.
2016 ALL-CAA WOMEN’S TENNIS TEAMS
First Team
Singles
Erica Braschi Elon So. Dorado, Puerto Rico
Marie Faure William & Mary Jr. Toulouse, France
Liza Fieldsend Coll. of Charleston Jr. New Braunfels, Texas
Olivia Lucas Elon So. Greenville, S.C..
Elizaveta Nemchinov William & Mary Sr. Moscow, Russia
Madara Straume UNCW So. Jurmala, Latvia
Doubles
Marie Faure William & Mary Jr. Toulouse, France
Elizaveta Nemchinov William & Mary Sr. Moscow, Russia
Christine Kharkevitch UNCW Sr. Houston, Texas
Laura Gomez UNCW Fr. Laurel Springs, Fla.
Katherine Schofield Coll. of Charleston Sr. Franklin, Tenn.
Mara Argyriou Coll. of Charleston Jr. Limassol, Cyprus
Second Team
Singles
Lauren Goodman William & Mary Fr. Fort Wayne, Ind.
Timea Guibe James Madison Jr. Noisy le Roi, France
Rachel Nelson James Madison Jr. Big Prairie, Ohio
Nicole Shakhnazarova Towson So. London, U.K.
Lucy Williams Towson So. Alpharetta, Ga.
Honami Yazawa Drexel Jr. Tokyo, Japan
Doubles
Taylor Casey Elon Sr. Duluth, Ga.
Erica Braschi Elon So. Dorado, Puerto Rico
Lauren Goodman William & Mary Fr. Fort Wayne, Ind.
Maria Groener William & Mary So. Oslo, Norway
Timea Guibe James Madison Jr. Noisy le Roi, France
Kimmy Herrock James Madison So. Tarpon Springs, Fla.
2016 CAA WOMEN’S TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Elizaveta Nemchinov, William & Mary
2016 CAA WOMEN’S TENNIS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Lauren Goodman, William & Mary
2016 CAA WOMEN’S TENNIS COACH OF THE YEAR: Elizabeth Anderson, Elon
All-Academic Team
Taylor Casey Elon Sr. Duluth, Ga.
Maria Groener William & Mary So. Oslo, Norway
Denny LaMachia Delaware Jr. Hopkinton, Mass.
Dylan Owens James Madison So. Olney, Md.
Carmen Pestano Hofstra Jr. Puerto de la Cruz, Spain
Clary Rodriguez Cruz Drexel So. Gurabo, Puerto Rico
Katherine Schofield Col. of Charleston Sr. Franklin, Tenn.
Alix Theodossiou UNCW Jr. Asheville, N.C.
Renate van Oorschodt Towson So. Apeldoorn, Netherlands