May 5, 2016
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (UCFKnights.com) - UCF junior Cortney Cesarini along with sophomores Monica Matias and Natalia Serrano were recognized on the American Athletic Conference All-Conference Team on Thursday by the league's coaches.
The three representatives on the all-conference team are the most for the Knights since 2004 when Ana Westin was named to the All-A-Sun First Team, while Julia Pecastaing and Kristina Lohmos were tabbed to the second team.
Serrano paced UCF with a 14-4 overall mark playing at No. 5 and No. 6. The Barcelona, Spain, native registered a 3-2 league mark and clinched the match for the Knights against UAB. She added a 5-6 mark at No. 1 doubles with partner senior Sofia Baptista.
Cesarini compiled a 12-5 record at primarily No. 4. She went 4-1 in conference play and sealed victories vs. Samford and Troy. The Lower Gwynedd, Pa., native tallied a 10-2 doubles mark playing with Matias.
A 12-2 overall mark with appearances in singles slots three thru six was recorded by Matias. The Moca, Puerto Rico, native went 3-1 in league play and secured the team win against Tulane. She added match-clinching victories against Cleveland State, Florida Atlantic and Florida A&M. She partnered with Cesarini to register a 10-2 doubles record.
The Knights posted a 12-7 overall mark during the campaign and earned a No. 4 seed at The American Championship, the highest for the program since 2005.
American Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Postseason Awards
Player of the Year
Saana Saarteinen, Sr., Tulsa
Freshmen of the Year
Ana Roman Dominguez, USF
Coach of the Year
Dean Orford, Tulsa
All-Conference Team
Cortney Cesarini, Sr., UCF
Monica Matias, Jr., UCF
Natalia Serrano, So., UCF
Ali Miller, So., Cincinnati
Srna Stosljevic, Sr., UConn
Celia Ruiz, Fr., East Carolina
Despoina Vogasari, Jr., Houston *
Vera Bessonova, Jr., USF
Jessica Cortes Chaves, So., USF
Ana Roman Dominguez, Fr., USF
Vaszilisza Bulgakova, Sr., SMU
Hristina Dishkova, Sr., SMU
Ipek Birol, Sr., Tulane
Ksenia Laskutova, So., Tulsa
Rongrong Leenabanchong, Jr., Tulsa
Martha Matoula, Fr., Tulsa
Saana Saarteinen, Sr., Tulsa *
* Unanimous selection
**There are 17 players on the all-conference team due to a tie in the voting