April 30, 2009
America East release
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Boston University freshman Stephanie Nunic became the first women's tennis player in the history of the America East to be named Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in the same season, as announced by the conference on Thursday. Joining her on the All-America East First Team are junior Francine Whu and senior Cori Lefkowith. Freshman Petra Santini garnered second-team honors.
Doubles partners Nunic and Whu garnered first-team all-conference accolades after posting a record of 11-8 during the spring season in the top spot, while Lefkowith and classmate Danielle Abraham also earned first-team honors with a record of 12-7 after splitting time in the No. 2 and 3 spots.
Lefkowith becomes a four-time all-conference honoree and just the eighth Terrier, first since Lindsey Dynof ('04), to be named to the team in each of her four seasons played. Whu is now a three-time honoree, while Abraham also received her third all-conference award.
Nunic, the 2009 America East Championship Most Outstanding Performer, led the 59th-nationally ranked Terriers to their 16th straight conference crown with a pair of dominating victories at first singles and first doubles. The New York, N.Y., native has a 13-6 singles record, including an unblemished 7-0 mark in the No. 2 spot, during the spring and will enter the NCAA tournament on a six-match win streak. One of her wins came against current-No. 90 Mariana Muci of Florida International.
Whu, the 2008 AE Most Outstanding Performer and Player of the Year, had another strong season, posting a mark of 12-7 during the spring. From Staten Island, N.Y., she has won her last three matches and will look to continue to build on her doubles success with Nunic in the NCAAs. The two won both of their matches in the top spot at the AE Championship with identical scores of 8-3.
Lefkowith saved her best for last, posting a record of 17-2 with a perfect 3-0 mark at No. 3 while spending most her of time at No. 4. The Clayton, Mo., native won her first 11 matches of the spring before suffering her first loss of the year. She contributed two crucial points in the AE title match, winning her singles contest and also teaming with Abraham to win one of the two doubles matches needed to earn the doubles point.
Santini also had a strong start to the spring season, winning her first nine matches. Originally from Sibenik, Croatia, she went on a four-match losing skid but got back on track, winning the last four before the NCAAs for a record of 13-4, playing most of her time at No. 3.
The Terriers have drawn 11th-seed UCLA in the first round of the 2009 NCAA women's tennis championships. The Terriers will face the defending national champion Bruins at 12 p.m. PT on Saturday, May 9 at the Los Angeles Tennis Center on UCLA's campus.
