April 23, 1998

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky women’s tennis placed its No. 22-ranked doubles duo on the Southeastern Conference’s second team, the conference office announced Wednesday.

Juniors Massoumeh Emami and Kelly Brown recorded a 16-3 overall record and were 7-3 in conference play. They have been ranked in the top 25 all season. The first team All-SEC was made up entirely of Florida and Georgia players, the nation’s second- and third-ranked teams, respectively. Georgia’s Marissa Catlin, the No. 2 singles player in the nation, was named Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player of the SEC Tournament. Arkansas head coach Kevin Platt was named Coach of the Year after guiding the Lady Razorbacks to the SEC Tournament semifinals and a No. 17 national ranking.

The complete list of the first and second teams follows.

1998 SEC WOMEN’S TENNIS AWARDS
FIRST-TEAM ALL-SEC (By Position)

Singles

1. Marissa Catlin, Georgia So.2. Aarthi Venkatesan, Georgia Fr.3. Stephanie Nickitas, Florida Jr.4. Whitney Laiho, Florida Fr.5. Stephanie Hazlett, Florida Fr.6. Bonnie Bleecker, Florida Sr.

Doubles 1. Marissa Catlin & Vanessa Castellano, Georgia  So./Jr.2. Jane Reid & Aarthi Venkatesan, Georgia        Jr./Fr.3. Bonnie Bleecker & M.C. White, Florida         Sr./So. 

SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC (At-Large)

Singles

Brandy Brown, Arkansas Sr.Dawn Buth, Florida Sr.M.C. White, Florida So.Vanessa Castellano, Georgia Jr.Agnes Muzamel, Ole Miss Jr.Julie Ditty, Vanderbilt Fr.

Doubles

Dawn Buth & Stephanie Nickitas, Florida Sr./Jr.Massoumeh Emami & Kelly Brown, Kentucky Jr./Jr.Margie Lepsi & Manisha Malhotra, Tennessee Sr./Sr.

COACH OF THE YEARKevin Platt, Arkansas

PLAYER OF THE YEARMarissa Catlin, Georgia

TOURNAMENT MVPMarissa Catlin, Georgia

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDKendra Howard, Arkansas