Women’s Tennis All-Conference Team Announced
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Sun Conference Office announced the 13-member women’s tennis All-Conference team for 2011 at the conference tournament banquet hosted by Embry-Riddle at the Sunset Harbor Yacht Club on Thursday evening. The All-Conference roster, which consisted of a first and second team, was voted on by the league coaches and included individuals from five league institutions.
Embry-Riddle head coach Dave Paschal earned the third women’s tennis Coach of the Year honor of his career after leading the Eagles to a 6-0 league record and the conference regular season title. By finishing first in the regular season race, the Eagles have earned the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament and enter tournament play with an 18-3 overall record.
Embry-Riddle junior Yi Ching Chen was selected as the Player of the Year. Ranked No. 1 in the nation in doubles and No. 3 in singles, Chen captured the USTA/ITA Florida Regional singles and doubles titles and went on to partner with Josefine Strom for the USTA/ITA national doubles title. Chen and Strom are 26-4 in doubles play, including a 5-0 record in the conference playing at the top doubles spot in the Eagle lineup. Chen is also the Eagles’ top singles player at 23-5 overall and 5-0 in league play.
For the second year in a row, the Champions of Character Award was presented to Southeastern’s 
Autumn Housefield. The senior from Tampa, Fla. provided 65 hours of service to the community while maintaining a 3.95 grade point average in English and Intercultural Studies with a minor journalism.
The Sun Conference tournament, which is being hosted by Embry-Riddle at the Crotty Tennis Complex, takes place this Friday and Saturday and features four teams ranked among the Top 25 in the NAIA. The first semifinal takes place at 11:30 a.m. on Friday and will see ninth-ranked SCAD Savannah, seeded second in the tournament, take on third seed and NAIA No. 18 St. Thomas. Friday’s second semifinal between NAIA No 2 Embry-Riddle and No. 24 Webber International, seeded fourth in the tournament, gets underway at 4:30 p.m. The championship match will be played at 1 p.m. on Saturday with the tournament champion receiving an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship in Mobile, Ala., May 17-21.
First Team
Magdalena Bresson, SCAD Savannah
Yi Ching Chen, Embry-Riddle
Hillary Collins, SCAD Savannah
Rocio Frej Vitalle, Embry-Riddle
Ekaterina Kamendova, Embry-Riddle
Kristina Marova, Embry-Riddle
Theresa Schmaus, SCAD Savannah
Second Team
Gabriella Bongionvanni, St. Thomas
Natha’lia Chaddad, Webber International
Courtney Collins, SCAD Savannah
Chelsey Lynn, Southeastern
Laura Nowak, Webber International
Josefine Strom, Embry-Riddle
Champions of Character Award
Autumn Housefield, Southeastern
Player of the Year
Yi Ching Chen, Embry-Riddle
Coach of the Year
Dave Paschal, Embry-Riddle