ISU Tennis Hands Out Annual Awards

AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State tennis team handed out season-end honors Sunday at its annual awards banquet at the Hunziker Auditorium in the Jacobsen Athletic Building. Each member of the team voted on individual awards to \honor their teammates.

Erin Karonis earned the team's Most Valuable Player award in her first year as a member of the Cyclone tennis squad. Karonis, a freshman from Ivyland, Pa., played No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles for ISU this past season. Karonis earned a Big 12 victory over Texas Tech's Samantha van der Drift on March 15. She also teamed with senior Chrissy Derouin to upset Texas A&M's Tiffany Clifford and Anna Blagodarova, who finished the season as the 51st-rated doubles team in the nation.

Senior Caitlin Loprinzi received the Sharon Mathes Mental Toughness award. Loprinzi also took home the Hardest Worker award, which she shared with Liza Wischer. Loprinzi played this season injury free after struggling with injuries throughout her first three years as a Cyclone.

Fellow senior Chrissy Derouin, a native of Moline, Ill., took home the Super Cyclone Spirit Award for her positive motivation and encouragement which she exhibited on and off the court. Derouin also received the award as a junior.

Freshman Reka Kelemen, a native of Budapest, Hungary, was honored as the team's Most Improved Player. Kelemen was also chosen as having the Best Attitude on and off the court for continuing to have a postive demeanor throughout the season.

Junior Kara Hickey was awarded the Persistence Award for fighting through injuries early in the season and coming back from her injuries and improving each and every match out.

Players Mentioned

Chrissy Derouin

Chrissy Derouin

Kara Hickey

Kara Hickey

Erin Karonis

Reka Kelemen

Caitlin Loprinzi

Caitlin Loprinzi

Liza Wischer

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Iowa State University Athletics