The most successful season in team history was capped off with a bevy of individual awards handed out to Saint Louis University women’s tennis student-athletes.
For the second straight year, graduate student Hailee Elmore was named as the Most Outstanding Performer in the conference by the coaches in the league. Last year, Elmore was the first ever SLU student-athlete to collect the honor.
She was also named the Atlantic 10 Conference Women’s Tennis Student Athlete of the Year and as a member of the Academic All-Conference team.
In addition to the Outstanding Performer honor, Elmore was named to her third consecutive A-10 All Conference team, an unprecedented feat in school history. She posted a 22-6 record this past year,
Her performance in the A-10 Championships was as gutsy as they come. With a berth in the championship match on the line, Elmore came from behind to win her match and propel the women’s tennis program to new heights.
Elmore leaves SLU as the career-victories leader in both singles and doubles play and is currently ranked No. 118 in the country.
She is the first Billiken to receive a national ranking and is currently in contention for an NCAA tournament bid.
“Her list of accomplishments is a result of constant preparation, attention to detail, the joy of competing and an absolute bitter refusal to be beaten. She led all of us this year,” head coach Jonathan Zych said.
Junior Jenny Nalepa also earned first-team All-Conference honors, joining Elmore. Last year, she was named to the second team. Nalepa posted 21 total wins on the year
Senior Casey Miller was named to the second team All-Conference squad, as well as the A-10 All-Academic team. She posted 15 wins in singles play and a 16-8 mark in doubles.
Miller finished her career with the second-most doubles wins in SLU history.
Head coach Zych said that Miller has been “a joy to coach” and has “an all-around perfect game.”
Last but not least, freshman Stephanie Hollis was named the Most Outstanding Rookie Performer in the conference.
Hollis was spectacular in her first season with the Billikens, posting a 26-4 record, the third best in school history.
“There is no tougher competitor in the A-10 than Stephanie Hollis,” Zych said.
