Peach Belt Releases Women's Tennis Preseason All-Conference Team

AUGUSTA , GA – The Peach Belt Conference has announced its 2009 women’s tennis preseason All-Conference team from the league office in Augusta, Ga.. Six players were named to the team, which is administered and voted on by the league’s Sports Information Directors. Armstrong Atlantic State, the defending Division II National Champions, led the team with two honored players while GCSU, Columbus State, Clayton State and Francis Marion had one each.

AASU’s Gabriella Kovacs was named an ITA All-American in both singles and doubles as a sophomore and to the PBC All-Conference team in doubles. She and partner Iuliia Stupak were named the PBC Tournament Doubles MVP. A native of Hungary, Kovacs was 25-2 in singles play and 29-3 in doubles overall in 2008 and finished the year ranked 19th nationally in singles.

Alida Muller-Wehlau was named the 2008 PBC Freshman of the Year for AASU and was also an ITA All-American in singles and doubles in addition to earning All-Conference honors at both positions. A sophomore from Flensburg, Germany, Muller-Wehlau was 27-3 in singles play and 31-2 in doubles last spring and will begin the 2009 season ranked #8 in singles in Division II.

GCSU’s Marjorie Ceppo will begin the 2009 season ranked #48 in the nation in singles after going 15-9 overall in singles play last spring, including a 14-8 mark at No. 2 singles. A senior from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Ceppo was also 16-8 in doubles play, including 13-4 at No. 1 doubles.

Columbus State’s Roxana Dondera was 20-4 overall in singles, 18-3 at the No. 2 spot. A senior from Golati, Romania, Dondera was 3-2 against nationally-ranked singles players last spring and will begin the 2009 season ranked #38 in the nation by the ITA.

Clayton State’s Viktoriya Semyrodenko advanced to last fall’s ITA doubles championship after capturing her second straight fall Mid-Atlantic regional title. A sophomore from Donetsk, Ukraine, Semyrodenko was 20-3 in singles play last year and will begin the 2009 season ranked #27 nationally in singles.

Francis Marion’s Tereza Sykorova was named an ITA All-American and PBC All-Conference in 2008 after going 21-2 in singles play. A junior from Prague, Czech Republic, Sykorova helped the Patriots to a No. 5 national ranking and an appearance in the NCAA Elite Eight. She is ranked #9 in the nation in singles entering the spring 2009 season.

Peach Belt Conference
Women’s Tennis Preseason All-Conference Team

Marjorie Ceppo, GCSU
Roxana Dondera, Columbus State
Gabriella Kovacs, Armstrong Atlantic State
Alida Muller-Wehlau, Armstrong Atlantic State
Viktoriya Semyrodenko, Clayton State
Tereza Sykorova, Francis Marion