NEC Release
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - After just missing out on the award in each of her first two years, LIU Brooklyn junior Sanne Louwers added Northeast Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Year to her growing list of honors, in a vote of league head coaches announced Wednesday morning. She was one of four Blackbirds honored, as freshman Marine Dans earned a first team All-NEC nod in No. 3 singles, and was honored with partner Nancy Zonneveld with first team honors in the No. 3 doubles spot. Freshman Isabella Wagener was also recognized, getting a second team All-NEC nod in No. 4 singles.
Louwers, now a three-time All-NEC honoree and former NEC Rookie of the Year, becomes the fourth LIU Brooklyn player in the last nine years to earn NEC Player of the accolades. She joined two-time winner Selma Babic (2009, 2010) and Jessica Loose (2006). Louwers, who hails from Nuenen in the Netherlands, concluded her junior year with a 14-8 mark and posted a 10-5 record in No. 1 singles play. She won eight of her last nine matches, and racked up five wins without a loss against conference opposition. Louwers has won nearly 72 percent of her matches since stepping foot on campus, with a 41-16 record over her three years in Brooklyn. Against NEC competition, she has amassed a 13-1 career mark.
Louwers was joined by teammate Marine Dans (No.3 singles) on the All-NEC first team. Dans wrapped a spectacular freshman campaign this April with a pair of wins in the NEC Tournament. She ended her season having won 13 straight matches, and finished 14-1 on the year. All but one of her league-high 14 victories at the No.3 flight came in straight sets, and in her last 11 matches, dropped just 34 games. Dans finished with the highest winning percentage in the NEC on the year, winning 93.3 percent of her outings. She was also a perfect 5-0 in conference matches.
The tandem of Dans and junior Nancy Zonneveld were honored with a first team All-NEC doubles award, in the No. 3 spot.The team of Dans and Zonneveld didn't start teaming until March, but proved to be a solid combo, finishing with a 7-4 overall record and 3-1 ledger versus NEC teams. The duo also won a pair of matches in the NEC Tournament.
Freshman Isabella Wagener was also honored, as she earned second team All-NEC honors in the No. 4 singles spot. Wagener solidified the No. 4 singles spot for the NEC runner-up Blackbirds, winning five of her seven league matches, including a pair of victories in the NEC quarterfinals and semifinals.
2014 NEC Women's Tennis Award Winners
NEC Player of the Year
Sanne Louwers LIU Jr Nuenen, Netherlands/Mgr. Cuytenlaan
NEC Rookie of the Year
Ksenija Tihomirova FDU Fr Riga, Latvia
NEC Coach of the Year
Jonathan Buchman FDU
2014 NEC Women's Tennis First Team All-Conference
Singles
Name School Yr Hometown/High School
#1 Sanne Louwers LIU Jr Nuenen, Netherlands/Mgr. Cuytenlaan
#2 Ryan Brown BRY Fr Austin, Texas/Lake Travis
#3 Marine Dans LIU Fr Waterloo, Belgium/Institu de Mot Couvreur
#4 Gisela Castany FDU So Barcelona, Spain
#5 Mariya Krachok FDU Jr Kiev, Ukraine
#6 Manuela Leme FDU Sr Varginha, Brazil/E.E. Antania Alves Cruz
Doubles
#1 Gisela Castany FDU So Barcelona, Spain
Ksenija Tihomirova FDU Fr Riga, Latvia
#2 Nicole Chis FDU So Highland Park, NJ/Highland Park
Mariya Krachok FDU Jr Kiev, Ukraine
#3 Marine Dans LIU Fr Waterloo, Belgium/Institu de Mot Couvreur
Nancy Zonneveld LIU Jr Frankfurt, Germany/European School Frankfurt
2014 NEC Women's Tennis Second Team All-Conference
Singles
Name School Yr Hometown/High School
#1 Ksenija Tihomirova FDU Fr Riga, Latvia
#2 Shreya Pasricha FDU Fr India
#3 Nicole Chis FDU So Highland Park, N.J./Highland Park
#4 Isabella Wagener LIU Fr Luxembourg/Lycee Classique Diekirch
#5 Nicole Rydzewski SHU Jr Maspeth, N.Y./St. Francis Prep
#6 Brittani Jentz SFU Fr Plano, Texas/Ursuline Academy of Dallas
Doubles
#1 Ryan Brown BRY Fr Austin, Texas/Lake Travis
Rosie Bird BRY Jr Hamilton, New Zealand/Hillcrest
#2 Danielle Gryckiewicz SFU So Calgary, Alberta/Calgary Academy
Alex Sachs SFU Jr Parkland, Fla./Stoneman Douglas
#3 Lucy Jasso SFU Jr San Luis Potosi, Mexico/Instituto Potosino
Brittani Jentz SFU Fr Plano, Texas/Ursuline Academy of Dallas