The University of Akron Athletics
Tennis Announces End of Season Team Awards
May 17 | Women's Tennis
AKRON, Ohio – During last weekend's trip to Ann Arbor, Mich., to compete in the NCAA Championship, The University of Akron tennis team held its annual team banquet. The event was an opportunity to recognize seniors Anya Baronayte and Jeremie Benjamin, and hand out postseason team awards.
Angelika Jogasuria was given the squad's most valuable player award (team member with best overall record) and most improved player award (voted on by the team). Benjamin and Zara Harutyunyan were co-recipients of the coaches award.
The Zips finished the season with a 20-5 overall record (7-1 MAC), the most victories in a season for the program since the 1990-91 squad finished 26-6, and rounded out the year with a loss to 10th-ranked Michigan in the NCAA Tournament's first round last Saturday. It was Akron's first-ever appearance in the event after claiming its first-ever Mid-American Conference tournament title on May 1.
Read a complete recap of the MAC championship title match | Read a complete recap of the NCAA Championship first round match.
"We had a wonderful season," first-year Akron head coach Brandon Padgett said. "The awards banquet was the culmination of all the hard work and dedication put in by each member of this team. Angelika had a marvelous season, and was in a great position to win her match versus Michigan, had we been able to extend the match a little longer for her. Jeremie and Zara showed leadership and determination all season, and our success was a direct result of that."
The presentation of the team awards rounded out an impressive list of accolades collected by the program's student-athletes this season. Harutyunyan was named MAC Player of the Year for the third-consecutive season and also earned a spot on the all-league first team for the third-straight season. Additionally, Pantusart and Jogasuria were named to the All-MAC Second Team. Harutyunyan and Pantusart were named to the MAC all-tournament team as well, with Harutyunyan also being chosen as MVP.
"We will miss our seniors greatly," Padgett said. "I know that they will both continue to make us proud as they pursue their chosen career paths."
Baronayte will remain with the program as a volunteer assistant, and serve as a graduate assistant in the athletics department's Student-Athlete Academic Services unit.
