May 5, 2009

Center Valley, Pa. - The 2009 Patriot League Women's Tennis All-League teams were announced on Tuesday, with Army sophomore Annie Houghton and Bucknell freshman Dumitrita Iepuras named Player and Rookie of the Year, respectively. Army's Paul Peck was named Coach of the Year for the tenth time in his career. All-League selections and major award winners are chosen by the League's six head coaches.

Houghton, the 2008 Player and Rookie of the Year, is the first back-to-back Player of the Year selection in Patriot League women's tennis history. The sophomore had an overall record of 28-9 at No. 1 singles and 24-8 at No. 2 doubles, going 4-1 in Patriot League singles play. Houghton went 6-0 in Patriot League doubles play, as Army compiled a 5-0 Patriot League record en route to earning its fifth-straight and tenth-overall Patriot League title last month. Houghton was also named a 2009 First-Team All-League selection.

Iepuras is the third Bison and first since teammate Tania Varela (2006) to earn Rookie of the Year honors. The freshman was 4-1 in Patriot League play at No. 4 singles this season and compiled a 15-5 overall record in singles this spring. Iepuras is also a 2009 Second-Team All-League selection.

Peck earned his fifth consecutive and tenth overall Coach of the Year award after leading the Black Knights to their ninth NCAA Tournament appearance.

Joining Houghton on the First-Team All-Patriot League are Army teammate Niki Flach, Bucknell's Paulina Gamboa and Tania Varela, Colgate's Elise DeRose and Lehigh's Julie Arthofer. Flach, the 2007 Rookie of the Year, went 5-0 in League play at No. 2 singles for the Black Knights and compiled a 20-7 overall record at No. 1 doubles this season.

Gamboa was 6-0 at No. 1 doubles in League play, as well as achieving a 5-0 record at No. 3 singles. Varela went 15-3 overall in singles for the Bison this year as she helped lead Bucknell to its fifth straight Patriot League title match. DeRose had 10 overall wins at No. 1 singles for the Raiders this season and went 3-3 in Patriot League play. Arthofer was 4-0 in League play at No. 3 singles for the Mountain Hawks.

Iepuras is joined by Army's Kristin Beehler, Michael Tollerton and Robie Verano, teammate Lauren Lucido and Holy Cross' Kristin Meahl on the 2009 Second-Team All-Patriot League. Beehler was 6-0 at No. 4 singles in League play this year, while Tollerton compiled an overall record of 16-10 at No. 5 singles. Verano earned Co-MVP honors for her performance at the Patriot League Tournament, as well as compiling a 5-0 League record at No. 6 singles. Lucido went 6-0 at No. 1 doubles with Gamboa this season, while Meahl earned an overall record of 14-12 (including the fall) at No. 1 singles for the Crusaders.

The 2009 Patriot League Champion Army Black Knights will continue their season in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against No. 6 Miami on Friday at 1 p.m. in Coral Gables, Fla.

2009 All-Patriot League Teams

First Team

Annie Houghton, Army, So.

Niki Flach, Army, Sr.

Paulina Gamboa, Bucknell, Sr.

Tania Varela, Bucknell, Jr.

Elise DeRose, Colgate, Jr.

Julie Arthofer, Lehigh, Jr.

Second Team

Kristin Beehler, Army, Jr.

Michael Tollerton, Army, So.

Robie Verano, Army, So.

Dumitrita Iepuras, Bucknell, Fr.

Lauren Lucido, Bucknell, So.

Kristen Meahl, Holy Cross, Jr.

Player of the Year: Annie Houghton, Army

Rookie of the Year: Dumitrita Iepuras, Bucknell

Coach of the Year: Paul Peck, Army