University of Minnesota Athletics
Pintusava Named First Team All-Big Ten
4/26/2012 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
April 26, 2012
Sophomore Natallia Pintusava was named First Team All-Big Ten today. The announcement was made this evening at the league banquet in Columbus, Ohio, site of this year's Big Ten tournament. It was also announced that junior Alexa Palen was the Sportsmanship Award Honoree for Minnesota.
Pintusava, who is from Minsk, Belarus, was named to an All-Big Ten team for the second straight year. She received second-team laurels last season as a freshman.
Pintusava is 14-6 in dual matches this year and posted a 7-4 record in Big Ten play. She was 6-2 at No. 1 singles in the conference and 1-2 at second singles. The unranked Pintusava posted wins against ranked opponents Leslie Hureau of Indiana and Sonja Molnar of Iowa as she won five of her final six league matches.
Pintusava also teamed with senior Magdalena Wiecha to post an 8-3 record in Big Ten doubles. The duo was 7-3 at first doubles and 1-0 at the second position. Their marquee win on the season was an 8-6 win against No. 8 Brooke Bolender and Emina Bektas of Michigan.
WOMEN'S TENNIS ALL-BIG TEN TEAMS
First Team All-Big Ten
Allison Falkin, Illinois
Melissa Kopinski, Illinois
Leslie Hureau, Indiana
SONJA MOLNAR, Iowa
EMINA BEKTAS, Michigan
BROOKE BOLENDER, Michigan
Natallia Pintusava, Minnesota
MARY WEATHERHOLT, Nebraska
Belinda Niu, Northwestern
KATE TURVY, Northwestern
PETRA JANUSKOVA, Penn State
Jennifer Rabot, Purdue
Second Team All-Big Ten
Marisa Lambropoulus, Illinois
Sarah Lee, Michigan
Patricia Veresova, Nebraska
Brittany Wowchuck, Northwestern
Chelsea Utting, Penn State
Alaina Trgovich, Wisconsin
Unanimous selections in CAPS.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Athlete of the Year: Mary Weatherholt, Nebraska
Freshman of the Year: EMINA BEKTAS, Michigan
Co-Coach of the Year: Ronni Bernstein, Michigan
Co-Coach of the Year: Scott Jacobson, Nebraska
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Melissa Kopinski, Illinois
Sophie Garre, Indiana
Cassandra Escobar, Iowa
Mimi Nguyen, Michigan
Dana Guentert, Michigan State
Alexa Palen, Minnesota
Mary Weatherholt, Nebraska
Veronica Corning, Northwestern
Tiffany Dittmer, Ohio State
Nina Sertic, Penn State
Lynda Xepoleas, Purdue
Nicky Stracar, Wisconsin
