PULLMAN, Wash. (May 10) – Washington State rising sophomore Guzal Yusupova captured MVP honors for the 2016-17 season to highlight the Cougars season-ending tennis banquet Tuesday evening.
In addition to Yusupova, other award recipients include Melisa Ates, who was a double award winner, capturing the Newcomer of the Year and the Strength and Conditioning Award, while team captain Aneta Miksovska received both the Academic Excellence Award and the Coaches Award.
A native of Karshi, Uzbekistan, Yusupova completed her freshman season with an 18-8 singles record, which included a 14-5 mark in dual matches. She played at the top two positions, going 4-1 at No. 1, and led the team with five match-clinching wins. Yusupova's 5-2 record in Pac-12 play was also tops on the team and included back-to-back wins over USC and UCLA, becoming the first Cougar to defeat both USC and UCLA in the same season since Nora Gaal accomplished the feat in 2002.
Ates, a rising sophomore from Antalya, Turkey, led the team in wins this season with a 22-13 overall record, playing mainly at No. 5. Additionally, she had a team-best 43 combined victories as she captured the Cougar Classic Gray Flight singles title in the fall and had a season-best nine match winning streak.
Miksovska, a rising junior from Stramberk, Czech Republic, posted a 19-10 singles record this season, playing at both the No. 3 and No. 4 positions. Midway through conference play she had back-to-back wins over nationally-ranked players Kelley Anderson of ASU (#88) and Paris Corley of Arizona (#113). In the classroom, she has a cumulative 3.83 grade point average and will major in food science.
In addition to Yusupova, other award recipients include Melisa Ates, who was a double award winner, capturing the Newcomer of the Year and the Strength and Conditioning Award, while team captain Aneta Miksovska received both the Academic Excellence Award and the Coaches Award.
A native of Karshi, Uzbekistan, Yusupova completed her freshman season with an 18-8 singles record, which included a 14-5 mark in dual matches. She played at the top two positions, going 4-1 at No. 1, and led the team with five match-clinching wins. Yusupova's 5-2 record in Pac-12 play was also tops on the team and included back-to-back wins over USC and UCLA, becoming the first Cougar to defeat both USC and UCLA in the same season since Nora Gaal accomplished the feat in 2002.
Ates, a rising sophomore from Antalya, Turkey, led the team in wins this season with a 22-13 overall record, playing mainly at No. 5. Additionally, she had a team-best 43 combined victories as she captured the Cougar Classic Gray Flight singles title in the fall and had a season-best nine match winning streak.
Miksovska, a rising junior from Stramberk, Czech Republic, posted a 19-10 singles record this season, playing at both the No. 3 and No. 4 positions. Midway through conference play she had back-to-back wins over nationally-ranked players Kelley Anderson of ASU (#88) and Paris Corley of Arizona (#113). In the classroom, she has a cumulative 3.83 grade point average and will major in food science.