Southeast Missouri State tennis team adds three recruits

The Southeast Missouri State women's tennis program has added three players to its roster.

Transfers Jess Courtnell and Heather Robinson and freshman Melissa Martin -- all natives of England -- will join the Redhawks for the 2012 season.

Courtnell posted a 4-14 singles record and 9-8 doubles mark at South Alabama last year. She recorded three of her singles victories at the No. 4 position. Seven of her doubles wins came at the No. 2 spot.

Robinson comes to Southeast from Campbell University. She went 10-11 in singles play last season, her 10 victories tying for fourth on the squad. She competed primarily at the No. 4 singles spot, where she earned seven wins.

In doubles play, Robinson teamed up with three different partners to register an 11-10 record. Five of those wins came at the No. 3 position.

Martin represented her state on two occasions in the under 14s Road to Wimbledon Tournament. She primarily played the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions and competed in the National Junior Club League Finals.

Southeast coach Mark Elliott believes the additions will dramatically upgrade a team that was strong at the top last season but lacked depth.

The Redhawks will return their top two players, Nikole Novikova and Elizabeth Nyenwe. Both were first-team all-Ohio Valley Conference, with Nyenwe winning the league's freshman of the year award.

"I'm really excited about the three new players," Elliott said. "They should really help us improve as a team next year."

Volleyball honors

The Southeast volleyball team has won the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award for the 2010-11 season. It is the seventh straight time the Redhawks have claimed the honor.

The Redhawks, who posted a 3.386 grade-point average during the 2010-11 school year, were among 92 NCAA Division I squads to receive the award. Three OVC teams were recognized.

The award, initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors volleyball teams that compiled at least a 3.30 GPA on a 4.0 scale. 

-- From staff reports