Generals' Ness, E&H's Di Michele, SU's Barb also Recognized
FOREST, Va. --- Washington and Lee University
top singles player Sonja Meighan earned her third straight ODAC
Player of the Year honor to headline the 2014 All-ODAC Women's
Tennis Awards. Generals' mentor Erin Ness earned ODAC Coach
of the Year recognition, while Emory & Henry College's Stella
Di Michele picked up ODAC Rookie of the Year laurels.
Shenandoah University's Molly Barb received the ODAC/Farm Bureau
Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award.
Meighan, a junior from McLean, Va., is just the second player in
ODAC history to win three straight top player honors. She
joins former W&L standout Marilyn Baker, who earned the
distinction from 1993-95. This season, Meighan owns a 21-2
overall singles record, all from the No. 1 position or in
championship flights in singles tournament action. Her
victories include a 7-0 mark in conference play. She's
currently riding a 10-match winning streak, with her last loss
coming against her opponent from NCAA Division I member James
Madison University. Meighan is currently the second-rated
singles player in the ITA's South Atlantic Region. Meighan
and doubles partner Patricia Kirkland sit second in the region
doubles rankings. The duo has gone 17-4 this season, all from
the top flight or in tournament play. That record includes a
5-0 mark in league action. Meighan is 20-4 overall in doubles
action.
Ness, in her second year guiding the Generals, has led W&L to
ODAC titles in both of her seasons, marking the 23rd and 24th
crowns in program history. Washington and Lee is currently
ranked fifth by the ITA in the Atlantic South Region, while also
holding a 20th-ranking in the ITA's national poll. In
addition to Meighan's (and Kirkland's) regional rankings, Meghan
Buell is rated 15th on the singles charts, while she and Chelsea
Mixson are 12th on the doubles list. Under Ness this season,
the Generals have only lost twice in team matches, win one loss
coming to JMU. W&L went 11-0 thru ODAC play and owns a 17-2
overall record.
Di Michele, a freshman from San Remo, Italy, put together a
stellar first season in Emory, losing only one time in 17 matches
from the top singles flight. That 16-1 mark included a 10-1
showing against ODAC competition. She finished the season on
a 10-match winning streak before the Wasps were eliminated in the
ODAC Tournament. In doubles play, Di Michele went 13-4 with
several partners. That includes a 3-1 mark with Alyssa
Wingate, a 4-0 record with Taylor Evans, and a 6-3 showing with
Lauren Riner. Di Michele and her partners went 8-3 against
ODAC foes.
Barb, a sophomore from Edinburg, Va., is top flight both on and
off the court. In the classroom, she boasts a 4.00 grade
point average as a Kinesiology major. She earned Division III
Scholar-Athlete honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association
(ITA) in 2013 in addition to ODAC All-Academic Team
recognition. She's a three-time honoree on the Shenandoah
University Dean's List. On the court, Barb posted a 10-8
overall record in singles play with a 10-5 mark from the top
flight. That included a 6-5 showing against conference
opponents. She was 8-12 in all matches in doubles play, with
an 8-9 record from the No. 1 slot.
For more information, visit the websites of any of the
participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at
www.odaconline.com. Don't forget to become a
fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow the ODAC on Twitter at @odacathletics.
2014 ALL-ODAC WOMEN'S TENNIS AWARDS
ODAC Player of the Year: Sonja Meighan, Jr., Washington
and Lee
ODAC Coach of the Year: Erin Ness, Washington and
Lee
ODAC Rookie of the Year: Stella Di Michele, Fr., Emory
& Henry
ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete: Molly
Barb, So., Shenandoah
All-ODAC First Team
#1 Singles: Stella Di Michele, Fr., Emory &
Henry
#1 Singles: Sonja Meighan, Jr., Washington
and Lee
#2 Singles: Meghan Buell, Jr., Washington
and Lee
#2 Singles: Maria Hawkins, Fr.,
Bridgewater
#3 Singles: Brooke Donnelly, Fr., Washington
and Lee
#4 Singles: Chelsea Mixson, Sr., Washington
and Lee
#5 Singles: Mary Shutley, So., Washington
and Lee
#6 Singles: Aslekhya Tenali, Fr., Washington
and Lee
#1 Doubles: Katie Gordon, Sr., and Maria
Hawkins, Fr., Bridgewater
#1 Doubles: Patricia Kirkland, Jr., and
Sonja Meighan, Jr. ,Washington and Lee
#2 Doubles: Meghan Buell, Jr., and Chelsea
Mixson, Sr., Washington and Lee
#3 Doubles: Claire Cahill, Sr., and Brooke
Donnelly, Fr., Washington and Lee
All-ODAC Second Team
#1 Singles: Jennifer Antoszyk, Jr., Roanoke
#1 Singles: Caitlin Delmas, Fr., Sweet
Briar
#2 Singles: Kelsie Grice, Fr.,
Randolph-Macon
#3 Singles: Emily Henderson, Fr.,
Roanoke
#4 Singles: Reed Kegel, Fr., Roanoke
#5 Singles: Melissa Tomlin, Fr.,
Randolph-Macon
#6 Singles: Haley Goodes, Jr., Roanoke
#1 Doubles: Stella Di Michele, Fr., and
Lauren Riner, Fr., Emory & Henry
#1 Doubles: Alison Henry, Fr., and Patricia
Verdezoto, Jr., Randolph
#2 Doubles: Emily Henderson, Fr., and Reed
Kegel, Fr., Roanoke
#3 Doubles: Molly Jesseman, Fr., and Melissa
Tomlin, Fr., Randolph-Macon