SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman’s Katarina Kozarov has been named the 2018 Southern Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Year as the league announced its postseason awards Wednesday (April 18). Samford’s David Vest was named the league’s Coach of the Year for the third time in his career, while Wofford’s Jenna Vroman was tabbed the Freshman of the Year. Samford’s Elsa Pool 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.
Kozarov becomes the fourth Paladin to win the award in the past five years after Ansley Speaks took home the award in 2014, 2016 and 2017. The sophomore was also named to the all-conference first team after finishing the season a perfect 6-0 at the No. 1 singes spot in conference play and 17-5 overall. A member of the all-freshman team last season, the Novi Sad, Serbia, native also posted a 13-9 overall record in doubles play, including a 6-0 mark with Gabby Rodriguez at flight two doubles.
Vest garnered Coach of the Year honors for the third time in his career after leading Samford to a 12-9 mark overall and a 5-2 record in conference play. The Bulldogs’ 5-2 record in SoCon play marks their best finish since 2015, when they finished 7-0. Samford earned the No. 3 see in this week’s Southern Conference Women’s Tennis Championship, while Vest had three players earn postseason awards this year.
Vroman turned in a strong campaign for the Terriers, posting a 13-4 mark, including a 5-2 mark in conference play. The freshman also earned a spot on the all-conference second team at the No. 2 spot. Vroman is the first Terrier to ever win the Freshman of the Year award and the first to be named to the all-freshman team since Cassidy Hicks in 2016.
Pool won the Sportsmanship Award in balloting conducted by the coaches. The sophomore went 11-8 at the No. 4 spot and 5-2 in conference play for the Bulldogs and was named the SoCon player of the week on Feb. 13. The Kingscote, England, native also paired with Holly Horsfall to earn a 5-2 doubles record in SoCon play. Pool, who was a member of the all-freshman team last season, is the first Bulldog to ever win the award.
Kozarov is joined on the all-conference first team by teammate Katty Weymouth, marking the fourth consecutive year the Paladins have had two representatives earn first-team honors. A pair of ETSU Bucs, Alory Pereira and Ioanna Markesini, were also named to the first team as Markesini picked up the honor for the second consecutive year. Mercer’s Katie Sidor and Samford’s Roos van der Zwaan rounded out the first team selections.
Three teams were selected for first-team all-conference in doubles play, including ETSU’s Pereira and Markesini. Samford’s Ellie Gerlach and van der Zwaan and Wofford’s Cassidy Hicks and Vroman were also honored.
The second-team all-conference selections are awarded based on position. Furman earned two positions, with Danni Vines earning the nod at No. 3 and Carol Elizabeth Kerman chosen at No. 4. Chattanooga’s Samantha Caswell was picked at No. 1 singles for the second consecutive year, while Wofford’s Vroman earned the nod at the No. 2 position. Melissa Esguerra of ETSU was named second team at No. 5 and Samford’s Grace Jennings picked up the No. 6 position.
Mercer’s Grace Korta and Sidor comprise the second-team No. 1 doubles team, while ETSU’s Yi Chi Ma and Esguerra earned the nod at No. 2 after completing a perfect 7-0 season in conference play. The Paladins’ Vines and Georgie Walker earned second-team doubles honors at No. 3.
Vroman was named to the All-Freshman team, where she was joined by ETSU’s Alejandra Morales, Furman’s Kerman, UNCG’s Brianna Gomez, Chattanooga’s Emma Van Hee and Western Carolina’s Jordyn King. Van Hee’s selection marks the first for a Moc since 2015, when Caswell was named to the team, while King’s selection is the second in as many years for the Catamounts. UNCG’s Gomez takes home the honors following a 3-1 conference record at flight four singles for the Spartans.
The 2018 Southern Conference Women’s Tennis Championship begins Friday, April 20.
2018 SoCon Women’s Tennis Postseason Awards
First Team
Singles
Alory Pereira, ETSU
Ioanna Markesini, ETSU
Katarina Kozarov, Furman
Katty Weymouth, Furman
Katie Sidor, Mercer
Roos van der Zwaan, Samford
Doubles
Alory Pereira/Ioanna Markesini, ETSU
Roos van der Zwaan/Ellie Gerlach, Samford
Cassidy Hicks/Jenna Vroman, Wofford
Second Team
Singles (by position)
No. 1 – Samantha Caswell, Chattanooga
No. 2 – Jenna Vroman, Wofford
No. 3 – Danni Vines, Furman
No. 4 – Carol Elizabeth Kerman, Furman
No. 5 – Melissa Esguerra, ETSU
No. 6 – Grace Jennings, Samford
Doubles (by position)
No. 1 – Grace Korta/Katie Sidor, Mercer
No. 2 – Yi Chi Ma/Melissa Esguerra, ETSU
No. 3 – Danni Vines/Georgie Walker, Furman
All-Freshman
Alejandra Morales, ETSU
Carol Elizabeth Kerman, Furman
Brianna Gomez, UNCG
Emma Van Hee, Chattanooga
Jordyn King, Western Carolina
Jenna Vroman, Wofford
Player of the Year
Katarina Kozarov, Furman
Freshman of the Year
Jenna Vroman, Wofford
Sportsmanship Award
Elsa Pool, Samford
Coach of the Year
David Vest, Samford