HAMMOND – Four members of the Southland Conference regular season champion Southeastern Louisiana women's tennis program were recognized when the league office announced the 2013 All-Southland Conference Women's Tennis Teams on Wednesday.
 
Leading the Lion contingent was first team singles selection freshman Renee Villarreal, while junior Valya Rusakova was a second team singles choice and tabbed the Southland Newcomer of the Year. New this year is the Conference's selection of conference champions at every spot in the lineup. Villarreal (No. 3), Rusakova (No. 4) and senior Isabel Brito (No. 6) were named as individual conference champions for having the best winning percentage at their respective positions.
 
The Lions' three All-Southland honorees, along with teammates Reginka Nychytailova, Nastya Tokareva, Morgane Charpenne, Adriana Castillo and Sarah Kriem, helped Southeastern to finish atop the league standings with a 21-2 overall record and 8-1 league mark, completing an amazing turnaround from last season's 1-10 league. Orchestrating the turnaround was Southeastern head coach Jason Hayes, who was named the Southland Conference Women's Tennis Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career. The Paris, Ky. native, who was named the league's top coach in 2006, 2007 and 2008, ties UT Arlington's Christian Wassmer for the most Coach of the Year nods in Southland history.
 
“We're very pleased to see three of our players receive deserved recognition,” Hayes commented. “Isa has done a tremendous job both on and off the court. She really stepped up as our leader and captain this season. We were fortunate to be able to increase our talent level this season by bringing in five newcomers. Renee and Valya were part of that group and were both key contributors to our successful season.
 
“I consider the Coach of the Year award to be as much of a team honor as an individual one,” Hayes continued. “I'm very thankful to our student-athletes for putting forth the effort to allow me to be bestowed with this honor. I'm very humbled and gratified to be recognized by my peers in the Southland Conference.”
 
Villarreal put together one of the best seasons in school history. She finished the regular season with a 21-0 singles record and a 9-0 mark versus league competition. Villarreal, a native of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, is the eighth player in school history to record 20-plus singles victories in a season. Her win total is tied for the fifth-most ever by a Lion.
 
Rusakova, in her first year with the program after transferring from Michigan State, is the first Lion in school history to earn Southland Newcomer of the Year honors. The Moscow, Russia product closed the regular season with a 15-5 singles mark and a 7-1 record versus Southland foes. Rusakova also won her final seven singles matches to close the regular season.
 
Rounding out the All-Southland group for the Lions was Brito, the team's lone senior. The Badajoz, Spain native closed the regular season with a 15-2 singles record and was 7-1 against Southland opponents. The 15 singles victories marked a career high for Brito.
 
McNeese State freshman Klaudia Gawlik was honored at both the Southland Player and Freshman of the Year. The All-Southland teams were selected by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
 
Southeastern will be the top seed in the Southland Conference Tournament, which runs Friday through Sunday in Beaumont, Texas. The Lions open the tournament on Friday, facing Central Arkansas in the first round. Should it get past UCA, Southeastern will face Northwestern State or Stephen F. Austin in Saturday's semifinals. The winner of Sunday's final will receive an automatic berth into the NCAA Championships. First serve for all of Southeastern's matches is set for 2 p.m.
 
2013 All-Southland Conference Women's Tennis Teams
 
Player of the Year: Klaudia Gawlik – McNeese State
Freshman of the Year: Klaudia Gawlik – McNeese State
Newcomer of the Year: Valya Rusakova – Southeastern Louisiana
Coach of the Year: Jason Hayes – Southeastern Louisiana
 
First-Team Singles All-Conference
Renee Villarreal, Southeastern Louisiana
Klaudia Gawlik, McNeese State
Polina Konop, Northwestern State
Tatiana Larina, Northwestern State
Madeleine Mortimore, Sam Houston State
Stefania Nicolae, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
 
Second-Team Singles All-Conference
Valya Rusakova, Southeastern Louisiana
Malena Gordo, Stephen F. Austin
Sheridan Currie, Sam Houston State
Dariya Dashutina, Lamar
Celia Rodriguez Delgado, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Carolina Salas, Lamar
 
First-Team Doubles All-Conference
Tatiana Larina/Andrea Nedorostova, Northwestern State
Polina Konop/Nataly Krutova, Northwestern State
Maider Martin/Mia Matuszak, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
 
Second-Team Doubles All-Conference
Doris Kuselj/Stefania Nicolae, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Malena Gordo/Julia Lorca, Stephen F. Austin
Carolina Salas/Helene Czudek, Lamar
 
Southland Conference Individual Champions
No. 1 Singles -Klaudia Gawlik, McNeese State (8-0)
No. 2 Singles- Tatiana Larina, Northwestern State (8-1)
No. 3 Singles- Renee Villarreal, Southeastern Louisiana (7-0)
No. 4 Singles- Valya Rusakova , Southeastern Louisiana (6-0)
No. 5 Singles- Maddie  Mortimore , Sam Houston State (9-0)
No. 6 Singles- Isabel Brito, Southeastern Louisiana (6-1)
 
No. 1 Doubles- Tatiana Larina/Andrea Nedorostova, Northwestern State (7-2)
No. 2 Doubles- Polina Konop/Natalya Krutova, Northwestern State (9-0)
No. 3 Doubles- Maider Martin/Mia Matuszak, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (9-0)