Gantcheva named top freshman in MWC

Thursday, April 28, 2005 | 9:25 a.m.

SUN WIRE SERVICES

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Elena Gantcheva, UNLV

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Kat Bushey, Air Force

All MWC team

SINGLES

Elena Gantcheva, Fr., UNLV

***Gyorgyi Zsiros, Sr., UNLV

*Anne Claire Ortiz-Luis, Sr., UNLV

**Maja Kovacek, Jr., New Mexico

*Iva Gersic, So., New Mexico

*Lauren Jones, So., BYU

Olga Boulytcheva, Jr., BYU

Anastasia Sourkova, Fr., BYU

*Emily Kirchem, So., Colorado State

*Dita Hauerlandova, Jr., San Diego State

*Michelle Heidbrink, Sr., New Mexico

*Sofia Holden, So., BYU

Elizabeth Ferris, Fr., Utah

Emily Kwok, Fr., Utah

DOUBLES

Elena Gantcheva/Sharon Marin, UNLV

Iva Gersic/Maja Kovacek, New Mexico

Anastasia Sourkova/Jennifer Miccoli, BYU

Indra Erichsen/Nina Spaeth, San Diego State

Michelle Heidbrink/Tiffany Robertson, New Mexico

Lauren Jones/Dolly Chang, BYU

Dita Hauerlandova/Alesya Vidov, San Diego State

***Four-time All-MWC selection

**Three-time All-MWC selection

*Repeat selection

SAN DIEGO -- Top UNLV player Elena Gantcheva was named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year and senior Gyorgyi Zsiros became the program's second-ever four-time honoree as part of the league's awards banquet, which was held Wednesday night on the eve of the championship tournament.

Gantcheva, a native of Sofia, Bulgaria, is ranked 28th in the nation in singles with a 29-5 overall record. She went 13-3 in dual matches at the No. 1 spot and currently stands 11-4 vs. ranked opponents. Gantcheva was also voted All-MWC in singles.

Zsiros, a native of Budapest, Hungary, was the only player in 2005 named to the singles team for the fourth consecutive season. She has posted a 12-13 overall record but went 5-1 vs. league opponents at the No. 2 position. She joins only Marianne Vallin (1994-97) as UNLV's four-time all-conference players.

One other Lady Rebel was recognized for her singles play as senior Anne Claire Ortiz-Luis is a repeat all-conference honoree. The Fontana, Calif., native stands 19-8 overall and was a perfect 6-0 in MWC play. In doubles, Gantcheva and fellow-freshman Sharon Marin made up the team's lone All-MWC selection after the duo went 9-5 overall and 4-1 against league players.

MWC Player of the Year honors oddly went to two members of the same team -- Maja Kovacek and Iva Gersic of New Mexico. Kat Bushey of Air Force won the annual sportsmanship award. The coach of the year will be announced after Saturday's championship match.

UNLV opens tournament play today vs. Colorado State at the Barnes Tennis Center on the campus of San Diego State.