SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman University’s Ansley Speaks has been named the 2014 Southern Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Year as the league announced its postseason awards Monday (April 14).  The Simpsonville, S.C., native was also tabbed the league’s Freshman of the Year, while Furman head coach Debbie Southern took home the league’s Coach of the Year honor.  Wofford’s Audrey Coventry earned the Sportsmanship Award.  Postseason balloting was conducted by the league’s head coaches who were not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes.

Speaks went 15-5 in singles competition for the Paladins, including a 7-1 mark at No. 1 singles in conference play.  Thirteen of her 15 victories came in straight sets this spring.  Speaks becomes the ninth different female from Furman to earn the Player of the Year Award, and the first since Monica Arguello in 2011.  Arguello was also the last Furman player to win the Freshman of the Year Award in 2008.

Southern was named the Coach of the Year by her peers after guiding the Paladins to a 16-5 finish in the regular season.  Furman went 9-0 in conference play to earn the top seed in this week’s Southern Conference Tournament.  Four of her players earned postseason awards this season.  It is the 14^th time Southern has won the award. 

Coventry was named the recipient of the league’s Sportsmanship Award and becomes the first Terrier to win the award. The junior from Overland Park, Kan., competes at No. 2 singles for Wofford.

In addition to the Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year Awards, Speaks was named to the all-conference first team.  She was joined by Davidson’s Brites Moniz-Soares, Elon’s Jordan Johnston, Samford’s Stephanie N’tcha, Chattanooga’s Kayla Jones and Western Carolina’s Stacia Kissell.  Johnston was named first team all-conference for the third straight year. 

Furman’s Alex Moreno-Kaste and Katherine Oudin were named first team all-conference in doubles play, along with Samford’s Kristen Lewis and N’tcha.  Chattanooga’s Alexa Flynn and Kaylene Chadwell were also selected for the first team.

The second team all-confeernce selections are awarded based on position.  Appalachian State’s Clarke Cox was chosen at No. 1 singles, while Elon’s Frida Jansaker earned the nod at the No. 2 position.  Samford’s Yasmeen Ebada was selected at No. 3, while her teammate, Emily Mallory, was tabbed at No. 5.  Elon’s Bryne Khoury earned the fourth position, while Furman’s Blair Martin was chosen at No. 6. 

Johnston and teammate Barbora Lazarova were tabbed second team all-conference at No. 1 doubles.  Furman’s Martin and Speaks were selected at the No. 2 spot, while Chattanooga’s Kelsey Coots and Claire Mulyadi earned the No. 3 position. 

The Paladins placed three on the all-freshman team as Speaks was joined by Martin and Karlee Bryde.  Georgia Southern’s Giulia Riepe, UNCG’s Yasmin Franco and Samford’s Lauren Caballero was also named to the all-freshman squad for 2014. 

The 2014 Southern Conference Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships begin Wednesday in Chattanooga, Tenn.

2014 SoCon Women’s Tennis Postseason Awards

First Team
Singles
Brites Moniz-Soares, Davidson
Jordan Johnston, Elon
Ansley Speaks, Furman
Stephanie N’tcha, Samford
Kayla Jones, Chattanooga
Stacia Kissell, Western Carolina

Doubles
Katherine Oudin/Alex Moreno-Kaste, Furman
Stephanie N’tcha/Kristen Lewis, Samford
Kaylene Chadwell/Alexa Flynn, Chattanooga

Second Team
Singles (by position)
No. 1 – Clare Cox, Appalachian State
No. 2 – Frida Jansaker, Elon
No. 3 – Yasmeen Ebada, Samford
No. 4 – Bryn Khoury, Elon
No. 5 – Emily Mallory, Samford
No. 6 – Blair Martin, Furman

Doubles (by position)
No. 1 – Jordan Johnston/Barbora Lazarova, Elon
No. 2 – Blair Martin/Ansley Speaks, Furman
No. 3 – Kelsey Coots/Claire Mulyadi, Chattanooga