The University of Akron Athletics
Gombera Wins MAC Tennis Sportsmanship Award
April 27 | Women's Tennis
OXFORD, Ohio - University of Akron women's tennis student-athlete Tanya Gombera (Harare, Zimbabwe/Chisipite Senior School) was named the Mid-American Conference's Leann Grimes Davidge Sportsmanship Award recipient at the league's annual postseason awards banquet on Thursday. The dinner was held on the Miami (Ohio) campus as part of the MAC Championship.
The freshman became the third player in school history to be awarded the honor as the Zips' Colleen Hollowell won the award in 1997 and Grace deGuia in 1998. Voting is done by student-athletes from each school based on who displayed outstanding sportsmanship throughout MAC competition. Gombera, who played at No. 1 singles in all but one match this season, posted a 5-20 singles record.
The award is named in honor of Leann Grimes Davidge, who served as Miami's women's tennis coach from 1978 until her death in an automobile accident in January 1985. During her years as head coach, Miami won three outright MAC championships and shared another. She was chosen as the MAC Coach of the Year by her peers in 1981 and 1983.
At the banquet the conference also announced the All-MAC First and Second Teams as well the player, coach and freshman of the year. Buffalo coach Kathy Twist was named coach of the year, Western Michigan's Malena Remynse earned player of the year and WMU's Kerstin Pahl was tabbed freshman on the year.
Eighth-seeded Akron (5-16, 1-7 MAC) was eliminated from the MAC tournament on Thursday, losing 4-0 to ninth-seeded Northern Illinois (5-18, 0-8). The event runs through Sunday, with the winner earning an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.
First Team All-MAC
Jessica Thompson, Ball State, Jr.
Andreea Novaceanu, Buffalo, So.
Maglena Nenova, Buffalo, Jr
Katrina Lomidze, Miami, Jr.
Malena Remynse, Western Michigan, Sr.
Carrie Jeanmarie, Western Michigan, Jr.
Second Team All-MAC
Ashley Jakupcin, Bowling Green, Jr.
Leda Pesatova, Miami, So.
Jenny Elder, Northern Illinois, Fr.
Myriam Cueva, Toledo, Jr.
Eunice Paravicini, Toledo, Sr.
Reedhina Parekh, Western Michigan, Sr.
Player of the Year: Malena Remynse, Western
Michigan
Freshman of the Year: Kerstin Pahl, Western
Michigan
Coach of the Year: Kathy Twist, Buffalo
Leann Grimes Davidge Sportsmanship Award: Tanya
Gombera, Akron
