LANCASTER, Pa. – A pair of first-year players on the Ursinus College women's tennis team received All-Centennial Conference honors after a sensational debut season.
Freshmen Maddie Russell and Cara Freedman were selected second team doubles, and Russell also doubled up with a second team singles nod.
Russell and Freedman enter rarified air in program history as two of only three Ursinus rookies to garner all-conference laurels, joining 2015 honorable mention recipient Ashley Nguyen, and the only two first-years to crack the All-CC roster for doubles.
The recognition is certainly well deserved after the duo posted a 13-7 record in doubles, going 10-6 at No. 2 and 3-1 at No. 1. The first-year pair finished 6-4 in CC competition, including three-set wins over the second units from Washington College, nationally ranked Swarthmore, and playoff participant Franklin & Marshall.
The tandem's 13 doubles wins are tied for fifth in a single season in program history, while their .650 winning percentage is good for seventh.
Russell was every bit as impressive individually, finishing 12-8 overall and 7-3 in conference matches. She emerged victorious at No. 2 singles against F&M, Washington College, and Swarthmore.
Additionally, junior Summer Burkholder was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team. Burkholder enjoyed a strong season on the court as well, going a perfect 9-0 in doubles play and compiling a 9-9 mark in singles. She was 5-1 combined between No. 5 and No. 6.