DALLAS (April 26, 2019) - After a successful first year with the FIU women's tennis team, the freshman pair of Basak Akbas and Kamila Umarova earned All-Conference USA honors on Friday, as voted on by league coaches. 

The Panther duo were named to the All-CUSA Doubles First Team, while Akbas earned spots on the All-CUSA Singles Second Team and the C-USA All-Freshman Team.

For both student-athletes, the recognition reflects the impressive seasons that each one of the rookie members had during the 2018-19 campaign. 

"Basak is an extremely hard working athlete, her dedication and ability to quickly adapt to collegiate tennis, played an integral role in her success this season. Her accomplishments are a confirmation that hard work pays off," said Head Coach Katarina Petrovic. 

In her first season with the Panthers, Akbas posted a 17-3 mark in singles competition. Playing in the No. 3 position, she held a 9-1 record and was undefeated in the fall, while winning the No. 2 singles flight at the Bedford Cup in October. She was named C-USA Athlete of the Week on March 6, after achieving a near perfect weekend of competition. Against conference opponents, she owned a 3-1 record and ran a 10-match win streak in singles from January 27 through April 6. Her most recent conference win was at the C-USA Championships where Akbas took down North Texas' Minying Liang, 2-6, 6-0, 6-0.

The Akbas-Umarova duo was a consistent force for the Panthers in 2018-19, sporting 8-2 doubles record overall and 6-2 mark in dual matches. The tandem ranked as high as No. 64 on the ITA/Oracle ranking this season, a rarity for a freshman pair to achieve. The dynamic duo remained undefeated against conference opponents while playing in the No.1 spot. They ended the season on a two-match win streak, where they downed conference opponents UTEP and North Texas at the C-USA Championships.

For Umarova, the freshman earned a 14-5 singles record overall in addition to her stellar doubles play with Akbas, going 9-4 in dual play and 4-1 in C-USA contests. 

"Basak and Kami are team players and they showed that while they competed. They collaborated and brought the best out of each other during every match," said Petrovic. 

2019 Conference USA Women's Tennis Superlative Awards Presented by Ready Nutrition

Player of the Year – Michaela Haet, Rice

Freshman of the Year – Martina Kudelova, Florida Atlantic

Newcomer of the Year – Brooke Pilkington, Old Dominion

Outstanding Singles Player of the Championship – Victoria Smirnova, Rice

Co-Outstanding Doubles Team of the Championship – Victoria Smirnova/Anna Bowtell, Rice

Co-Outstanding Doubles Team of the Championship – Brooke Pilkington/Holly Hutchinson, Old Dominion

Coach of the Year – Dom Manilla, Old Dominion

 

All-Conference USA Singles

First Team

Martina Kudelova, Florida Atlantic

*Maria Kononova, North Texas

*Tamuna Kutubidze, North Texas

*Holly Hutchinson, Old Dominion

*Nataliia Vlasova, Old Dominion

*Michaela Haet, Rice

Anastasia Smirnova, Rice

Victoria Smirnova, Rice

 

Second Team

Rocio Safont, Charlotte

Basak Akbas, FIU

Natalie Kallmunzerova, Florida Atlantic

Anna Smith, Marshall

Oleksandra Andrieieva, Old Dominion

Brooke Pilkington, Old Dominion

*Yulia Starodubtseva, Old Dominion

Anna Bowtell, Rice

Priya Niezgoda, Rice

Kirsten Prelle, UTEP

 

*Repeat Honoree

 

All-Conference USA Doubles

First Team

Kamila Umarova/Basak Akbas, FIU

*Maria Kononova/Tamuna Kutubidze, North Texas

Holly Hutchinson/Brooke Pilkington, Old Dominion

Linda Huang/Michaela Haet, Rice

Priya Niezgoda/Anastasia Smirnova, Rice

 

Second Team

Ivana Babic/Alexandra Heczey, North Texas

Yulia Starodubtseva/Oleksandra Andrieieva, Old Dominion

Nataliia Vlasova/Natalya Malenko, Old Dominion

Anna Bowtell/Victoria Smirnova, Rice

 

*Repeat Honoree

 

Conference USA All-Freshman Team

Basak Akbas, FIU

Martina Kudelova, Florida Atlantic

Oleksandra Andrieieva, Old Dominion

Alesya Yakubovich, Old Dominion

Anastasia Smirnova, Rice

Victoria Smirnova, Rice

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