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	Women's Tennis Home HEADLINES Women's Tennis One Of Top Academic Teams Again Lady Rebel Netters Excel In The Classroom Lady Rebel Netter Kseniia Tokarieva Picks Up Another Award RELATED LINKS • Follow all of the college tennis action at CollegeSports.com • Email this to a friend

 
Lady Rebel Netter Kseniia Tokarieva Named SEC Co-Freshman Of The Year

Ole Miss set to face South Carolina in SEC Tournament first round Thursday.

April 19, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Ole Miss' Kseniia Tokarieva was named the SEC Co-Freshman of the Year as the 2006 Women's Tennis SEC Awards were announced Wednesday. She was also a first-team All-SEC selection, while junior Ilona Somers made the second team.

"To win an award in this league is a significant accomplishment," head coach Mark Beyers said. "Every time you step on the court in the SEC you face a difficult challenge. We are very proud of Kseniia, and we are also excited for Ilona to make second team All-SEC. They both have worked very hard this year."

Vanderbilt's Taka Bertrand earned Player of the Year, Florida's Roland Thornqvist was selected as the Coach of the Year, and South Carolina's Gira Schofield earned Co-Freshman of the Year honors with Tokarieva. Alabama's Ashley Bentley was named the Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Tokarieva finished with an 8-3 record in the SEC, including 2-1 at her current position of No. 1 singles. She began the year at No. 4 where she posted a 5-0 record in conference and has made her way to the top of the lineup with steady play.

A native of Kiev, Ukraine, Tokarieva heads into the SEC Tournament with a combined record of 31-7 in singles and doubles. She is 16-3 in singles and teams with Nika Koukharthcouk for a 15-4 record at No. 2 doubles. Tokarieva clinched three of Ole Miss' four SEC wins.

Somers posted a 6-5 record in the league, mostly at Nos. 2 and 3 singles. She holds a 12-5 record in dual matches and this past Saturday, won her 20th match of the year.

Ole Miss has had a player named to the All-SEC team 15 of the last 16 years. The SEC currently has two teams ranked among the nation' top 10 and four in the top 30.

The Lady Rebels (11-8, 4-7), who are the No. 9 seed in the SEC Tournament, open up play Thursday at 9 a.m. CT, against the No. 8 seed, South Carolina. The Gamecocks finished the regular season at 11-9 overall and with an identical 4-7 league record. They edged the Lady Rebels 4-3 in the regular season meeting in Oxford.

This will be the second time in three years for the two teams to meet in the first round of the SEC Championships. Ole Miss defeated South Carolina 4-3 in the 2004 SEC Tournament in Nashville, Tenn.

To follow the Lady Rebels during the tournament, go to www.olemisssports.com and click on the tournament link below the story.