Women's Tennis Earns All-Conference Honors; Wesselink Named Coach of the Year
05/03/2006 | Women's Tennis
May 3, 2006
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The University of Richmond women's tennis team placed three players on the Atlantic 10 All-Conference Team in voting conducted among the Conference's head coached following the A-10 Championship. Robin Carter, Pamela Duran, and Beatrice Grasu were each named to the All-Conference Team, while Duran was also named the Most Outstanding Rookie and head coach Mark Wesselink was tabbed the Coach of the Year.
Duran, a freshman from Guayaquil, Ecuador, garnered All-Conference honors and Most Outstanding Rookie laurels for winning all three of her third doubles matches in tournament play. Duran combined with Ashlee Vosters to capture wins against Temple (8-1), Massachusetts (8-2), and Charlotte (8-3) to help the Spiders claim their third straight A-10 title.
Throughout the season, Duran recorded a team-best doubles record of 14-4, competing at No. 2 and No. 3. She also posted a 7-7 singles mark, playing at the No. 1 and 2 spots. She ranked No. 74 in the ITA rankings (1/10) and garnered one A-10 Rookie of the Week honor (4/10).
Carter, a junior from Mendham, N.J., posted a team-best 16-4 singles record, competing mostly at second singles, and put together a team-high 10-match win streak. In doubles action, the one-time A-10 Player of the Week (3/13) compiled a 12-8 mark and went 3-0 with Grasu at No. 2 to help the Spiders win the A-10 Championships.
Grasu, a junior from Reisterstown, Md., posted a 7-9 singles mark, competing at first and second singles and compiled an 11-8 doubles mark at first and second doubles. She went 3-0 with Carter at No. 2 doubles to help the Spiders win the A-10 Championships.
Wesselink was named Coach of the Year after guiding Richmond to its third straight A-10 title and fourth championship in the last five years. He was named Coach of the Year each of those seasons. Entering the Championship as the top seed, the Spiders captured wins 4-0 wins over Temple, Massachusetts, and Charlotte en route to the title.
Wesselink, who is in his 16th season at Richmond, was previously honored as Coach of the Year in 2002, 2004, and 2005.
The Spiders will continue their season later this month as they make their sixth NCAA Tournament appearance.