RUSTON – The Best in the Boot.
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Louisiana Tech's
Olga Bienzobas was voted by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association as the 2024 Women's Tennis Player of the Year, announced by the LSWA on Saturday.
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Bienzobas, who was also one of six players to be named First Team All-Louisiana, put together one of the best seasons in program history on the courts. The senior compiled a 19-3 singles record from the No. 1 spot in the spring, the most by any CUSA player and tied for the second most in school history.
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The First Team All-Conference USA selection put together a program record 17-match winning streak while winning 38 of her 50 completed sets. Her best win came early in the dual season when she defeated 56th-ranked Kinaa Graham of LSU, the second-highest ranked victory by a Bulldog ever.
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The San Sebastian, Spain native also went a perfect 4-0 in CUSA action with victories over New Mexico State, UTEP, Jacksonville State, and Sam Houston. She also notched marquee wins over Rice and Houston and closed out the regular season with a three-set win at No. 68 Wichita State.
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Bienzobas also went 11-11 in dual doubles while playing on courts one and two. She went a perfect 3-0 in CUSA play while also posting a season-best five-match winning streak at the No. 1 position.
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She becomes the first Bulldog in school history to be named Louisiana Player of the Year as well as the first to become a two-time All-Louisiana honoree.
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Alexia Romero,
Tiffani Nash, and
Zoie Epps were all named All-Louisiana Honorable Mention.
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Romero, a Second Team All-CUSA selection in both singles and doubles, went 16-3 in dual singles while playing on courts four, five, and six. Her 16 wins ranked second on the squad and tied for the eighth most in a single season in program history.
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The fifth-year senior finished her career with 54 dual singles wins, second most in program history. She posted a team-high five clinching points while also reeling off a season-high eight straight victories starting with a victory at LSU. She also clinched the win against WKU in the CUSA Championship quarterfinals and tallied the lone point for the Bulldogs in the semifinals against No. 27 FIU.
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In doubles, she won a team-high 13 matches while playing on all three courts. She also went a perfect 3-0 against CUSA competition.
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Nash, a Second Team All-CUSA honoree, registered a 15-5 dual singles record, the third most wins on the team. She had a five-match winning streak that started with a victory at Houston. The Bossier City native also went 2-0 against CUSA opponents with wins against New Mexico State and Jacksonville State and capped off the regular season with a straight sets win at No. 68 Wichita State.
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In doubles, Nash played on all three courts while compiling eight victories including a season-high winning streak of three matches.
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Epps was named Second Team All-CUSA in doubles and was a member of the CUSA All-Freshman Team after going 11-9 in her first season as a Bulldog. She had two separate three-match winning streaks while winning six of her last eight completed matches to finish the season.
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The Norman, Oklahoma native went 3-1 in CUSA play, defeating New Mexico State, UTEP, and Sam Houston. She also provided the clinching point against UAB, winning in straight sets. In doubles, the freshman went 9-6 while finishing the year by winning four straight over ULM, Kansas State, No. 68 Wichita State, and WKU.
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Player of the Year: Olga Bienzobas, Louisiana Tech
Newcomer of the Year: Arina Gamretkaia, McNeese
Freshman of the Year: Amira Bergaoui, Xavier
Coach of the Year: Alan Green, Xavier
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First Team
Anita Sahdiieva, LSU
Olga Bienzobas, Louisiana Tech
Aran Teixidó Garcia, LSU
Arina Gamretkaia, McNeese
Laurie Barendse, New Orleans
Mbali Langa, Xavier
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Second Team
Lucy Carpenter, Loyola
Amira Bergaoui, Xavier
Olivia Scattini, LSUA
Kyra Akinnibi, Xavier
Anastasija Adeikyte, McNeese
Florentine Dekkers, LSU
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Honorable Mention: McKenna Wheatley, Xavier;
Zoie Epps, Louisiana Tech; Lahari Yelamanchili, Tulane;
Alexia Romero, Louisiana Tech; Luci Ivanova, LSUA; Annemart Kleijn, LSUA;
Tiffani Nash, Louisiana Tech; Chloe Henderson, Loyola; Micaela Ponce, Loyola; Maria Wang Martinez, McNeese.