2019 Great Midwest Women's Tennis All-Conference Team (PDF)


OWENSBORO, Ky.– Hosted by Kentucky Wesleyan, the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Women’s Tennis All-Conference Team was announced on Thursday night prior to the start of the postseason tournament.
 
A total of 16 student-athletes were named to either the all-conference first or second team and individual award winners were also revealed.
 
Hillsdale accepted the regular-season championship trophy for the second year in a row, celebrating a perfect run through the league schedule. 
 
The Chargers were 7-0 and claimed rights to the top overall seed in the four-team championship bracket. HC is also regionally ranked at No. 6 in the Midwest Region heading into Friday’s first-round semifinal matchup. 
 
The annual ice cream social gathered all four participating teams from each gender in one room as 2018-19 accomplishments were recognized. Coaches from each program also presented a few words about their respective teams and seasons to date. 
 
The all-conference team was voted by the league’s coaches. 
 
Earning Great Midwest Player of the Yearhonors from the head coaches was Findlay sophomore Samantha Sweet. Sweet earned conference athlete of the week honors and was a first team all-conference pick as a freshman.
 
She has elevated her level of play in year two, helping push UF back into the postseason for the second straight year. Sweet was undefeated against conference opponents and manned the No. 1 singles position for head coach Doug Linden for the entirety of 2018-19.
 
Sweet gave the Oilers a conference player of the year sweep, joining men’s graduate Tomas Kmetko. She hails from Mercer Island, Wash., and is a foundational anchor for a team with no seniors on the roster.
 
The Great Midwest Freshman of the Yearwas Findlay’s Laiying Alvaradoa talented rookie import from Venezuela.  
 
Alvarado has won 11 straight singles matches going into the conference tournament and has solidified the No. 2 singles position for the Oilers in her first year of college competition. She also formed a deadly duo with Sweet in doubles as the pair officially went 6-0 against league opponents. 
 
Five different Hillsdale Chargers were named to the all-conference team this year under the direction of Great Midwest Coach of the Year Nikki Walbright. Walbright repeated as the coach of the year and is looking to get her program back into the NCAA Championship field. 
 
The Chargers went a perfect 7-0 through the conference schedule and picked up a handful of notable regional victories in the non-conference portion of the season.