Kryuchkova Earns MWC Freshman of the Year

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April 23, 2008

Fort Worth, Texas - Evgenia Kryuchkova of the University of Utah women's tennis team earned the 2008 Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year award on Wednesday night. During the awards banquet, the Utes were also awarded a record high of three singles players earning all-MWC singles awards. Elizabeth Ferris, Emily Kwok, and Kryuchkova made their mark on the all-MWC singles team. This is Ferris' fourth year in a row to earn all-conference singles. Ferris and Kwok were also named to the 2008 all-MWC doubles team this year. Last year Ferris earned all-conference doubles with Leigh Walsh.

Kryuchkova, Utah's true freshman hailing from Zhukovsky, Moscow Region, has made a splash within the Mountain West Conference this year, arising as Freshman of the Year. The Ute compiled a 23-12 overall record this season, including a 2-2 mark in MWC action at the No. 2 position before undergoing a season ending injury. Kryuchkova posted wins over Julia Trunk of SDSU (6-4, 6-2) and Lauren Wilson of Air Force (6-2, 6-4) during conference matches and defeated BYU's Dolly Chang at the BYU Invitational in September 2007 with a 6-2, 6-2 mark.

Ferris, a senior and native to Anaheim, Calif., made her mark within the MWC again this year, accumulating a 29-11 singles record this year as the team heads into the conference tournament. The 60th ranked Ute has had good showings year around this season with at the ITA All-American Tournament, ASU Invitation, Northwestern Invitational, and has posted wins over several ranked opponents in dual matches. Ferris defeated the No. 1 ranked opponent in the country in Utah's season opener with a 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 win over Aurelija Miseviciute of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Kwok, a senior and native to Richmond, B.C., earned all-conference honors in singles play for the first time since the 2004-05 season when she was a freshman. The Ute has tallied a 15-11 singles record this year and went 5-2 in league play. Kwok earned her first ever Mountain West Conference Player of the Week last week after defeating now 120th ranked Kristina Doerr of BYU (6-2, 6-4), aiding the Utes in their overall 6-1 victory over the Cougars.

Ferris and Kwok earned all-MWC doubles recognition on Wednesday night as well. The Ute duo have posted an immaculate 17-4 overall record this season as they head into conference play. Ferris and Kwok are currently ranked 38th in the country by the ITA. The Ute duo has posted wins over three ranked doubles teams to earn their top 50 ranking, including a recent 8-5 win over No. 16 Anna Sydorska and Macall Harkins of TCU.

TCU had a league-high of four singles players on the All-MWC team, followed by Utah with three. BYU and UNLV each had two honorees, while Colorado State, New Mexico and San Diego State had one apiece. TCU had two doubles teams net All-MWC accolades, while BYU, Colorado State, New Mexico, UNLV and Utah each had one.

"Having Evgenia, Liz, and Emily make first team all-conference all at the same time is probably a first for this program. They have truly been corner stones in the program," stated head coach Mat Iandolo. "In terms of Liz and Emily, they've been big leaders for the team. Evgenia earning Freshman of the Year is great and shows the magnitudeof a player she is. I am looking for her to do a lot for us in the future."

The No. 4 seeded Utes will take on No. 5 seeded BYU on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. CDT.

All-MWC Singles TeamKristina Doerr, So., BYU*Anastasia Surkova, Sr., BYUHilary Tyler, Sr., Colorado State*Ola Abou-Zekry, Jr., New MexicoEsther Cadua, Jr., San Diego StateMacall Harkins, Jr., TCU*Nina Munch-Soegaard, So., TCU*Anna Sydorska, Jr., TCUKatariina Tuohimaa, Fr., TCU*Elena Gantcheva, Sr., UNLVKristina Nedeltcheva, So., UNLV*Elizabeth Ferris, Sr., UtahEmily Kwok, Sr., UtahEvgenia Kryuchkova, Fr., Utah
All-MWC Doubles Team*Anastasia Surkova/Jennifer Miccoli, BYULauren Strasburger/Hilary Tyler, Colorado StateOla Abou-Zekry/Lucy Scott, New MexicoMacall Harkins/Anna Sydorska, TCUKatariina Tuohimaa/Idunn Hertzberg, TCU*Elena Gantcheva/Kristina Nedeltcheva, UNLVElizabeth Ferris/Emily Kwok, Utah
Player of the YearElena Gantcheva, Sr., UNLV
Freshman of the YearEvgenia Kryuchkova, Fr., Utah
Coach of the YearJefferson Hammond
*notes repeat selection

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Elizabeth Ferris

Elizabeth Ferris

Evgenia Kryuchkova

Emily Kwok

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Leigh Walsh

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