Crimson Tide Tennis Teams Honored at Annual Banquet
4/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
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Tuscaloosa—The Alabama men’s and women’s tennis teams held their annual end of the year banquet at North River Yacht Club Tuesday night, honoring the teams’ achievements for the 2003-04 season.
Senior Stephen Mitchell was named MVP for the men’s squad while sophomores Ashley Bentley and Robin Stephenson were named co-MVP for the women’s team.
On the men’s side, freshman Tom McVey was named as the team’s most improved player, while sophomore Matt Drummond received honors for the 110% effort award. Tide senior Christian Brodersen earned the men’s academic award for the highest GPA on the squad.
On Monday night, Brodersen was awarded the prestigious Bryant Award at the Academic Achievement Awards Reception. The award, named for legendary coach Paul W. “Bear” Bryant is awarded to the University’s top male and top female scholar-athlete each season.
For the women, freshman Mari Muller was named the team’s most improved player and sophomore Melissa Minor was given the 110% effort award for the second consecutive year. The team’s X-Factor Award was given to sophomore Robin Stephenson and freshman Mari Muller. Stephenson was 16-7 this spring with wins over then top-ranked Agata Cioroch of Georgia in February and No. 2 Alexis Gordon of Florida in March. Muller went 10-8 as a freshman while clinching four wins for the Tide.
Sophomore Ashley Bentley was named the SEC Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year last week at the conference banquet in Nashville, Tenn. It was the first time the SEC had given the award and Bentley shared it with Vanderbilt’s Annie Menees.
Both squads were also recognized Monday for having the highest team GPA for the year among all men and women’s varsity athletic programs at UA. It was the third consecutive year the women’s team has won the award.
The men and women are preparing for a berth in the 64-team NCAA Championship field. The men’s team is ranked 40th in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association polls while the women are 29th. The selection for the team tournament will be announced on ESPNews on May 5th.
