April 25, 2013
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (UNLVRebels.com) - Junior UNLV standout Aleksandra Josifoska became the sixth woman in program history to earn league MVP honors when she was named Mountain West Tennis Player of the Year during an awards banquet Thursday night.
Josifoska was also one of three Lady Rebels named all-conference after a vote of the league's head coaches. The Mountain West Championships got underway earlier in the day and UNLV will open their stay with a match vs. host Air Force on Friday at the Academy Tennis Courts.
Currently ranked 35th nationally, Josifoska became the second Lady Rebel to win the league award in as many years as teammate Lucia Batta took home the honor a year ago. Other all-time winners from UNLV: Elena Gantcheva with a league-record three consecutive honors (2006-08); Katarina Malec (2000); Hall of Famer Marianne Vallin, who also took the honor three times (Big West in 1994 and '96 and WAC in 1997); and Jolene Watanabe (Big West in 1990).
A native of Skopje, Macedonia, Josifoska is currently 30-7 overall and 16-3 in dual matches. This spring she posted a 7-0 record vs. Mountain West opponents for the second straight season and is a stunning 21-1 in league action during her career. She has five wins to her credit over opponents currently ranked in the sport's top 100, including a victory in the fall over the nation's sixth-ranked player.
It marked Josifoska's third straight year earning a spot on the All-MW Singles Team. She was joined by fellow-junior and three-time honoree Batta, who is ranked 83rd nationally and stands 32-5, including an eye-popping 22-0 in duals. In doubles, Batta and senior Nives Pavlovic were named all-conference after compiling a 15-11 record, including 4-4 in league play at the top spot. For Pavlovic, who ranks sixth in school history with 78 doubles wins, it marked the fourth straight season she was named All-MW in either singles or doubles or both.
2013 MW WOMEN'S TENNIS AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:Aleskandra Josifoska, UNLV
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:Rana Sherif Ahmed, Fresno State
COACH OF THE YEAR: TBD
2013 ALL-MW SINGLESChristine Molina, Sr., Air ForceMarlena Pietzuch, Sr., Boise StateSandy Vo, Jr., Boise StateAbby Stevens, Fr., Colorado StateRana Sherif Ahmed, Fr., Fresno StateMichelle Okhremchuk, Jr., Nevada. RenoEmma Verberne, Sr., Nevada, RenoMichaela Bezdickova, Jr., New MexicoAlicia Aguilar, Fr., San Diego StateJulia Wais, Sr., San Diego StateLucia Batta, Jr., UNLVAleksandra Josifoska, Jr., UNLVVeronica Popovici, Jr., WyomingSimona Synkova, Sr., Wyoming
2013 ALL-MW DOUBLESMelissa Cecil/Hannah Drake, Air ForceManuela Pietzuch/Marlena Pietzuch, Boise StateMelissa McQueen/Rana Sherif Ahmed, Fresno StateMichelle Okhremchuk/Emma Verberne, Nevada, RenoMichaela Bezdickova/Laura Richardson, New MexicoLucia Batta/Nives Pavlovic, UNLVVeronica Popovici/Simona Synkova, Wyoming
