Two Southeast Missouri State tennis players voted all-OVC

~ Nyenwe becomes first Redhawks player selected OVC freshman of the year

The Southeast Missouri State women's tennis squad did not fare well this year, going 2-14, including an eighth-place 1-7 in the nine-team Ohio Valley Conference.

But two Southeast individuals stood out, and they were recognized Thursday.

Elizabeth Nyenwe was named OVC freshman of the year, the first Southeast women's tennis player to win the award, while also making the all-OVC first team.

Sophomore Nikole Novikova joined Nyenwe on the all-conference first unit, marking the first time since 1996 (Elena Novikova, Valerie Vanderstappen) that Southeast had two all-OVC performers in one season.

Southeast filled two of the seven spots on the all-conference first team. Austin Peay was the only other squad with two first-team selections. Voting was done by the league's coaches.

"I'm very excited for both Elizabeth and Nikole," Southeast coach Mark Elliott said. "They worked really hard for it and it's great recognition for them."

Nyenwe, a native of London, England, went 7-1 in OVC matches at No. 2 singles. Her overall singles record was 9-7. She won seven of her final 10 matches.

"To win freshman of the year is very cool," Elliott said. "It's never been done here before."

Elliott said Nyenwe originally contacted him about playing for Southeast. Elliott in turn got in touch with a friend from their days when both competed on the professional tennis circuit.

"He's in charge of women's tennis in England and he told me how good a player she was," Elliott said.

Nyenwe got off to a slow start before catching fire.

"She was like Nikole was last year. When you get a new coach there's an adjustment period," Elliott said. "She really turned her game around. She had a great year."

Novikova, from Bellevue, Wash., went 8-8 overall and 3-5 in OVC play at No. 1 singles. That came after a freshman season that saw her voted second-team all-OVC despite playing much of the year with a separated shoulder.

"Nikole came back after the shoulder and played really well," Elliott said.

Nyenwe and Novikova combined for 17 of Southeast's 27 singles wins.

-- being underclassmen, Elliott is hopeful the Redhawks can strengthen the middle and bottom of their lineup next season to become a factor in the OVC race.

"Recruiting is going well. We're hoping to make a nice jump next year," Elliott said.