Bentley, Stephenson Garner High Honors at SEC Banquet
4/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
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Nashville, TN -- Alabama sophomores Ashley Bentley and Robin Stephenson were placed in an elite group when they were honored at the SEC Awards Banquet Wednesday night.
The pair were named second team All-SEC at doubles and won individual awards as well. Stephenson was a second team selection at singles and Bentley took home the Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year award. Bentley and Stephenson are only the ninth and tenth different players to be named to an All-SEC team in Alabama history and became only the fourth doubles team to do so. Stephenson’s selection was the seventh singles choice in school history with only five different players ever named All-SEC.
“It’s a huge honor,” Stephenson said. “It was a surprise because I wasn’t really even thinking about it. But to know that it hasn’t been done that often here is really exciting.”
“To be recognized for something we have so much fun doing is great,” Bentley said. “It’s really the icing on the cake to be recognized for our hard work.”
Bentley’s honor is a first for the University and for the SEC. This is the first season the SEC has given the Scholar Athlete of the Year award for tennis and Bentley has set the standard for the future.
“They are both very deserving of these awards,” said Alabama Head Coach Jenny Mainz. “They’re setting a new bar for our program and they were under a lot of pressure to be playing at No. 1 and 2 singles and No. 1 doubles as sophomores. For them to not only compete but excel is a testament to their hard work.”
Sophomore Natalie McElveen was named to the SEC Good Works Team. The SEC sponsors Good Works Teams in all 20 sports and highlights athletes from each school who gives back to their community in superior service efforts. McElveen, an SEC honor roll member, is the team representative for the Student Athletic Advisory Board and is a member of the Future Alumni for Tradition and Excellence at Alabama. She is also involved with FCA, Athletes in Action and the National Society for Collegiate Scholars.
“I think Natalie is perfect for this position,” Mainz said. “She is very involved, enjoys it and takes pride in what she does with the community. Natalie is a great representative for Alabama.”
Alexis Gordon from Florida was named SEC Player of the Year and First Team All-SEC at No. 1 singles, finishing with a 16-2 dual match record. Her only losses this season were to No. 44 Stephenson and No. 9 Amanda Johnson of Duke.
BANQUET PHOTO GALLERY
Ashley Bentley accepts her award at the SEC Banquet.
Ashley Bentley and Robin Stephenson with Coach Jenny Mainz.
Ashley Bently and Robin Stephenson.
Ashley Bentley with the Tide coaching staff, Daryl Greenan, Keith Swindoll, and Jenny Mainz.
The 2004 Crimson Tide team at the SEC Banquet.
Complete Awards List:
First-Team All-SEC (by position) - Based on Record
Singles:
No. 1 Alexis Gordon, Florida (10-1)
No. 2 Sabita Maharaj, Tennessee (9-0)
No. 3 Zerene Reyes, Florida (9-0)
No. 4 Jitka Schonfedlova, Georgia (8-0)
No. 5 Lindsay Dawaf, Florida (10-0)
No. 6 Alexandra Smith, Georgia (9-0)
Doubles:
No. 1 Kelly Schmandt/Aleke Tsoubanos, Vanderbilt (10-1)
No. 2 Jennifer Magley/Zerene Reyes, Florida (11-0)
No. 3 Boglarka Berecz/Nina Suzak, Florida (9-2)*
No. 3 Douglas Wink/Natalie Frazier, Georgia (9-2)*
Second-Team All-SEC (At-Large)
Singles:
Robin Stephenson, Alabama
Jennifer Magley, Florida
Aibika Kalsarieva, Kentucky
Danielle Wiggins, South Carolina
Audra Falk, Vanderbilt
Aleke Tsoubanos, Vanderbilt
Doubles:
Robin Stephenson/Ashley Bentley, Alabama
Alexis Gordon/Julie Rotondi, Florida
Evgenia Subbotina/Jitka Schonfeldova, Georgia*
Chloe Carlotti/Virginia Tomatis, Ole Miss*
*Tied for position
Coach of the Year: Roland Thornqvist, Florida
Player of the Year: Alexis Gordon, Florida
Freshman of the Year: Sarah Foster, Kentucky
Co-Scholar-Athletes of the Year: Ashley Bentley, Alabama and Annie Menees, Vanderbilt
