W&L's Ness, Hill, Donnelly Take Home Major Honors

FOREST, Va. --- For the first time in four seasons, a new player stands atop the ODAC women's tennis awards list as Emory & Henry College standout Sveva Mazzari earned ODAC Player of the Year honors from the league's head coaches. Washington and Lee University mentor Erin Ness picked up ODAC Coach of the Year laurels, while fellow Generals Tessa Hill and Brooke Donnelly received the ODAC Rookie of the Year and ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete awards.

Mazzari, a sophomore from San Remo, Italy, shook off injury last season to return with a banner campaign for the Wasps women's tennis program.  She went 17-0 in #1 singles matches this spring, including a 10-0 showing against ODAC competition.  Those results include six matches where she did not lose a game against conference opponents. Mazzari helped lead E&H to an ODAC quarterfinal victory, the first win for E&H in the conference tournament since 2007.  Overall, Mazzari is 18-1 in singles play this year, with her lone loss coming to the region's third-ranked player (Bridget Harding, Emory University).  In doubles action Mazzari and partner Savanna Summers went 12-3 this spring, which includes an 8-2 mark in conference competition.  They were named to the All-ODAC Second Team at #1 doubles.

Ness, in her fourth season guiding the W&L women's tennis program, enjoys her third straight ODAC top coaching honor.  She led the Generals to their 14th consecutive and 26th overall ODAC title.  Washington and Lee is ranked 15th in the latest ITA national coaches poll, while also earning a sixth-ranking in the ITA's Atlantic South Region. The Generals saw their team schedule come to a close this past weekend with a loss to top-ranked Emory University in the NCAA Tournament third round. Ness owns an 80-22 record (.784) in her four seasons in Lexington.

Hill, a freshman from Canton, Ohio, pairs this honor with an All-ODAC First Team selection at #2 singles and #1 doubles with Donnelly.  Hill owns a 14-4 record at #2 singles this spring, adding in one more victory in her lone match from the #1 position.  That 15-4 overall mark includes a 6-0 showing against ODAC opponents.  She is the ninth-ranked player in the Atlantic South Region. She is 20-6 in all singles matches this year. Hill and Donnelly are 18-3 at #1 doubles, a record that includes a 7-0 mark against league competition. The duo are slotted fourth in the Atlantic South Region and await competition in the NCAA Division III Singles and Doubles Tournament.

Donnelly, a junior from Kennesaw, Ga., stars both on and off the court for Washington and Lee.  The Accounting and Business Administration double-major maintains a 4.0 grade point average as a multi-honoree as a W&L Scholar and All-ODAC Academic Team member. She is a member of W&L's "24" organization, which is dedicated to creating and promoting a united community of student-athletes.  On the court, Donnelly went 15-1 this spring, all at #1 singles on the way to being ranked second in the Atlantic South. That record includes an 8-0 showing against ODAC foes.  She is 22-2 in all singles competitions this year.  In addition to playing with Hill in the NCAA doubles tournament, Donnelly will also compete in the national singles field.

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 @odacathletics on Twitter.

2016 ALL-ODAC WOMEN'S TENNIS AWARDS
ODAC Player of the Year: Sveva Mazzari, So., Emory & Henry
ODAC Coach of the Year: Erin Ness, Washington and Lee
ODAC Rookie of the Year: Tessa Hill, Fr., Washington and Lee
ODAC/Va. Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete: Brooke Donnelly, Jr., Washington and Lee