April 21, 2010
BEAUMONT, Texas - Lamar University's Mariaryeni Gutierrez was named the Southland Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Year the conference announced Wednesday.
No player in the Southland Conference had what it took to take down Gutierrez, the Cardinals' No. 1 player. The native of San Antonio, Venezuela, posted an 11-0 record in the top flight this season. In addition to her inclusion onto the first-team at No. 1 singles, Gutierrez and senior teammate Manijee Ashrafi netted a second-team selection at No. 1 doubles. The duo boasted an impressive 8-3 mark at the position.
Overall, Gutierrez was 20-0 in singles competition for Lamar.
Lamar senior Kaltrina Harbuzi was named to the first team at the No. 2 singles spot. The Schneverdingen, Germany, native put up a 10-1 record. Harbuzzi is 18-1 in singles play this season.
Lamar (13-8 overall, 8-3 conference) will open Southland Conference Tournament play against Sam Houston State at noon Friday in Corpus Christi, Texas. The tournament winner receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
2008-09 All-Southland Conference Women's Tennis Teams First Team All-Southland Conference Singles School Class Hometown 1 - Mariaryeni Gutierrez Lamar Jr. San Antonio, Venezuela 2 - Kaltrina Harbuzi Lamar Sr. Schneverdingen, Germany 3 - Martina Rubesova Northwestern State So. Ustinad Laben, Czech Republic 4 - Kathrin Lange Northwestern State Jr. Emmingen, Germany 5 - Daiana Negreanu UT Arlington Jr. Alexandria, Romania 6 - Nyssa Peele Texas State Sr. Austin, Texas
Doubles School Class Hometown 1 - Olga Bazhanova/Adna Curukovic Northwestern State So./Jr. Nikolaev, Ukraine/Zenica, Bosnia-Herzegovka 2 - Martina Rubesova/Andrea Nedorostova Northwestern State So./Fr. Ustinad Laben, Czech/ Brno, Czech Republic 3 - Kathrin Lange/Bianca Schulz Northwestern State Jr./Jr. Emmingen, Germany/ Wiesenstiasse, Germany
Second Team Singles School Class Hometown 1 - Olga Bazhanova Northwestern State So. Nikolaev, Ukraine 2 - Doris Kuselj A&M-Corpus Christi Fr. Dubronik, Croatia 3 - Paola Montuenga Stephen F. Austin Fr. Vendone, France 4 - Maria Martinez-Romero UT Arlington So. Nules, Spain 5 - Andrea Nedorostova Northwestern State Fr. Brno, Czech Republic 6 - Bianca Schulz Northwestern State Jr. Wiesenstiasse, Germany
Doubles School Class Hometown 1 - Mariaryeni Gutierrez/Manijee Ashrafi Lamar Jr./Sr. San Antonio, Venezuela/San Juan, Peurto Rico 2 - Gabriela Rojas/Mariana Perez Texas State Fr./Fr. Cali, Colombia/ Bucaramanga, Colombia 3 - Maria Martinez-Romero/Nikola Matovikova UT Arlington So./Jr. Nules, Spain/Alexandria, Romania
Player of the Year - Mariaryeni Gutierrez, Lamar Freshman of the Year - Doris Kuselj, A&M-Corpus Christi Newcomer of the Year - Martina Rubesova, Northwestern State Coach of the Year - Patric DuBois, Northwestern State
