BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The Gulf South Conference announced its women's tennis weekly award winners for the 2024 season with Mississippi College's. Fernanda Cota being named the GSC Player of the Week. This week's awards were for matches between April 15-21.
Cota put together a solid week going 2-0 in doubles from the No. 1 position alongside teammate Ely Alas, while tallying a 1-1 mark in singles action from the No. 3 spot.
In solo play, the senior defeated North Georgia's Johanna Lippert (6-2, 4-6, 6-0) before falling to West Alabama's Heden Ly (6-2, 6-2).
Cota secured two ranked doubles wins defeating No. 41 Lippert/Viktorie Wojcikova from UNG (6-3) and No. 10 Shaira Rivera/Hardija Vidnere from UWA (6-4.) This is the first GSC Player of the Week award for Cota and Mississippi College this season.
Other nominees: Natalie Rainke (VSU); Hardija Vidnere (UWA)
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Natalie Rainke, Fr., Valdosta State
Rainke went 2-1 in doubles and 2-0 in singles during the final week of the season to help Valdosta State to 2-1 record. Appearing at the No. 2 singles position, the rookie defeated Saint Leo's Claudia Borbon Rocca (7-6 (7-4), 7-5). She then bested West Georgia's Andrea Medel in straight sets (6-2, 6-3). In doubles, alongside, Evelyn Altmaier, she played at No. 3 spot and notched wins over SLU's Kamila Shailina/Madelyn Martin (6-2) and UWG's Karla Menendez/Luna Mouton (6-3), before falling to Lee's Lizza Gnilozubova/Mirjana Ragastovac (Lee). This is her fourth GSC Freshman of the Week award, previously winning on Feb. 14, March 20, and April 10.
Other nominees: none
2024 GSC Women's Tennis Weekly Awardees
Feb. 7: Leiselotte Hartlohner, Montevallo (Player); Clarie Jaramba, Montevallo (Freshman)
Feb. 14: Estefania Garcia, AUM (Player); Natalie Rainke, Valdosta State (Freshman)
Feb. 21: Khim Iglupus, West Alabama (Player); Sofia Zemtsova, Christian Brothers (Freshman)
Feb. 28: Shaira Rivera, West Alabama (Player); Sofia Zemtsova, Christian Brothers (Freshman)
Mar. 6: Guadalupe Martinez, West Florida (Player); Sofia Zemtsova, Christian Brothers (Freshman)
Mar. 13: Guadalupe Martinez, West Florida (Player); Aneta Poborilova, Valdosta State (Freshman)
Mar. 20: Ana Villalvazo, AUM (Player); Natalie Rainke, Valdosta State (Freshman)
Mar. 27: Estefania Garcia, AUM (Player); Aneta Poborilova, Valdosta State (Freshman)
Apr. 3: Aneta Poborilova, Valdosta State (Player); Aneta Poborilova, Valdosta State (Freshman)
Apr. 10: Ashleigh Simes, Lee (Player); Natalie Rainke, Valdosta State (Freshman)
Apr. 17: Olivia Pezo, Valdosta State (Player); Denisa Hanakova, Valdosta State (Freshman)
Apr. 24: Fernanda Cota, Mississippi College (Player); Natalie Rainke, Valdosta State (Freshman)
