R-MC's Gray, LC's Harris Take Home Major Honors
FOREST, Va. --- Washington and Lee University standout Brooke Donnelly took home two major awards to headline the 2017 All-ODAC Women's Tennis honors. She was tabbed the ODAC Player of the Year in addition to repeating as the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Randolph-Macon College mentor Charles Gray earned ODAC Coach of the Year laurels in a vote of his peers, and Lynchburg College first-year competitor Christina Harris received ODAC Rookie of the Year accolades.
Six singles players and one full team plus one-half of a second repeat as All-ODAC honorees a season ago with five honors on the All-ODAC First Team in 2017. Donnelly again appears at #1 singles, while teammate Melinda Kauffman moves from first team #4 singles to the third flight and DeeDee Aeschliman repeats at first team #6 singles. Randolph-Macon's Gaby Tersigni moves up from second team #4 singles to first team #2 singles this season.
In the doubles ranks, Bridgewater College's team of Stephanie Barton and Whitney Cash earned first team honors at #2 singles after receiving top team awards at #2 doubles in 2016.
RELATED: 2016 All-ODAC Awards | All-Time All-ODAC
Donnelly, a senior from Kennesaw, Ga., stars both on and off the court for the Generals. In the classroom, 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. At the 2016 NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championships, Donnelly received the NCAA Elite 90 Award, which the student-athlete with the highest grade point average at each of the NCAA's 90 championship every year. She is also a member of W&L's "24" organization, which is dedicated to creating and promoting a united community of student-athletes.
On the court, the two-time All-American is currently the Atlantic South region's second-ranked singles and doubles player, the latter distinction shared with Tessa Hill. This spring, Donnelly posted a 14-3 record in singles action, all from the top flight. That included a 6-0 mark against ODAC competition this season. Her record balloons to 23-5 when factoring in results from the fall, which includes a victory at the ITA Southeast Regional Championships and a seventh place showing at teh ITA Oracle Cup. In doubles play, Donnelly and Hill are 12-4 this spring which includes a 2-0 mark against league foes. Donnelly has two other doubles wins with two different partners in league matches.
Gray is in his fourth season as the Director of Tennis at Randolph-Macon. This is his first ODAC top coaching honor. Gray helped lead Randolph-Macon to 17 overall victories for a second straight season, finishing at 17-3 overall and 10-1 against ODAC competition. R-MC continued its success in the league tournament, reaching the championship match for the second straight season. Gray currently serves as the chair of the ODAC women's tennis coaches committee.
Harris, a freshman from Falls Church, Va., pairs this honor with All-ODAC First Team nods at #1 singles and #1 doubles. She is currently the 25th ranked player in the Atlantic South region by the ITA. This spring, she went 17-1 overall and 10-1 against league foes, all from the top flight. She was 1-1 at the ITA regionals in the fall, bringing her overall record to 18-2 in her first season in the Hill City. In doubles action, Harris and Lilli Altenburg went 13-5 that included a 7-4 mark against conference opponents. Harris also had a win with Halle Lavieri in doubles play.
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 on Instagram.
2017 ALL-ODAC WOMEN'S TENNIS AWARDS
ODAC Player of the Year: Brooke Donnelly, Washington and Lee
ODAC Coach of the Year: Charles Gray, Randolph-Macon
ODAC Rookie of the Year: Christina Harris, Lynchburg
ODAC/Va. Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete: Brooke Donnelly, Washington and Lee
All-ODAC First Team | |
#1 Singles: | Brooke Donnelly, Washington and Lee |
#1 Singles: | Christina Harris, Lynchburg |
#2 Singles: | Hannah Archer, Washington and Lee |
#2 Singles: | Gaby Tersigni, Randolph-Macon |
#3 Singles: | Melinda Kauffman, Washington and Lee |
#4 Singles: | Anna Kreynin, Washington and Lee |
#5 Singles: | Maddie Hutchins, Washington and Lee |
#6 Singles: | DeeDee Aeschliman, Washington and Lee |
#1 Doubles: | Aubrey Hawn/Keyu Jin, Randolph |
#1 Doubles: | Lilli Altenburg/Christina Harris, Lynchburg |
#2 Doubles: | Jamiah Lewis/Shannon Quinn, Bridgewater |
#3 Doubles: | Stephanie Barton/Whitney Cash, Bridgewater |
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All-ODAC Second Team | |
#1 Singles: | Michelle Fleenor, Washington and Lee |
#1 Singles: | Keyu Jin, Randolph |
#2 Singles: | Whitney Kiser, Bridgewater |
#3 Singles: | Melissa Tomlin, Randolph-Macon |
#4 Singles: | Ashley Schmitz, Randolph |
#5 Singles: | Molly Jesseman, Randolph-Macon |
#6 Singles: | Toni McDonald, Randolph-Macon |
#1 Doubles: | Caitlin Delmas/Toni McDonald, Randolph-Macon |
#1 Doubles: | Emily Henderson/Colette Wibaut, Roanoke |
#2 Doubles: | Madeline Herring/Catherine Lee, Roanoke |
#3 Doubles: | Landon Aud/Stephanie Yeager, Randolph-Macon |