NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lexington?s own Sarah Foster garnered Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year honors Wednesday evening at the SEC Women?s Tennis post-season awards banquet.
Foster, a Lexington Christian Academy graduate, turned in a 27-13 overall singles record and compiled a 10-1 tally in SEC singles contests. Foster has won eight-consecutive matches and scored singles victories over two top-50 players in the last two weeks. Foster entered the pre-season unranked but enters this week?s SEC Tournament with the ITA?s No. 64 singles ranking.
?This is as well deserved of an honor as I have ever seen in my years of coaching,? UK Coach Mark Guilbeau said. ?It is incredible to see her ascend from junior tennis to this stage so quickly. She had an amazing work ethic before she played at Kentucky, and she just has a belief within herself that she can do anything. Her junior coach, Charlie Ellis, had a great influence on her development, and Coach Brenda Emery added to Sarah?s development at LCA.?
Foster?s nod is the second such honor awarded to a Kentucky player in as many seasons. Nathalie Roels claimed the 2003 SEC Freshman of the Year award for Kentucky.
?It speaks well for our program when our student-athletes get immediate rewards for working so hard and contributing here,? Guilbeau said.
Also recognized Wednesday was Kentucky junior Aibika Kalsarieva, who has excelled in her first year of NCAA tennis after transferring from the NAIA?s Lewis & Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. Kalsarieva earned an All-SEC At-Large singles selection. Kalsarieva owns a 34-11 overall singles record and tallied an 8-3 conference record at No. 1 singles.
?Aibika clearly deserves to be an All-SEC singles and doubles player. This is a great reward for her. She may do more at Kentucky in two years than many players have done in four.?
Cats Set for SEC Tournament Bout Against Mississippi State
Sixth-seeded Kentucky battles 11th-seeded Mississippi State tomorrow in the opening day of the SEC Women?s Tennis Tournament. The Cats and Dogs meet Thursday at 11:30 a.m. CDT at Vanderbilt?s Brownlee O. Currey Tennis Center. UK dealt MSU a 5-2 defeat earlier this season in Starkville, Miss. Live scoring for tomorrow?s match will be available at www.vucommodores.com.
