by Jonathon Zenk, NSU Sports Information Graduate Assistant
NSU—Following impressive campaigns that earned them All-Southland Cpmferemce selections, Rhea Verma and Ela Iwaniuk added another accolade, as both were named to the All-Louisiana second team and Verma was named All-Louisiana Freshman of the Year, the Louisiana Sports Writers Association announced Friday.
Verma is the first Lady Demon to be named All-Louisiana Freshman of the Year since Tatiana Larina in 2012.
The Lady Demons were one of three teams to have multiple players honored, joining LSU and Xavier (La.). The Tigers led the way with four athletes chosen, including three on the first team.
Verma, a redshirt freshman from Toronto, dominated at the No. 3 position for NSU, going 11-0 in Southland action and 16-6 overall. She became the first Lady Demon to finish unbeaten in conference play at singles since Natalya Krutova in 2015.
Iwaniuk, a junior from Konarskie, Poland, became the only NSU player to earn All-Southland, Academic All-Southland and All-Louisiana accolades. It is the second consecutive year she has been honored by the LSWA, after being named Newcomer of the Year last season.
She was lethal at the No. 5 spot in the rotation for NSU. Her 17-4 record overall and 10-1 record in Southland contests earned her a second team All-Southland honor, which is her second consecutive all-conference selection. That record also put in her in a tie for 12th place on NSU’s single-season winning percentage list (81 percent).
With her 10-1 conference record this season, she is now an impressive 19-3 in league play in her two years with the Lady Demons.
LSU’s Eden Richardson was once again named All-Louisiana Player of the Year. She has earned the honor both years with the Tigers. LSU’s Paris Corley earned Newcomer of the Year and LSU’s Julie and Michael Sell and Loyola’s Kyle Russell tied for Coach of the Year.
Of the 13 players on the two teams, two were on other Southland teams, led by McNeese’s Charoline Erlandsson, who was the only one to be named to the first team. New Orleans’ Trang Dao was named to the second team.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Eden Richardson, LSU
Others receiving votes: Sonia Chen, Louisiana Tech
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Rhea Verma, Northwestern State
Others receiving votes: Dalia Ahmed, McNeese; Maria Alfaro, ULM; Putri Insani, Southeastern; Antonia Ruessli, Nicholls
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR – Paris Corley, LSU
Others receiving votes: Angelica De Vincenzis, Xavier
COACH OF THE YEAR – TIE – Julie and Michael Sell, LSU; Kyle Russell, Loyola
Others receiving votes: Alan Green – Xavier
2019 LSWA All-Louisiana College Women’s Tennis Team
FIRST TEAM
Eden Richardson, LSU
Charoline Erlandsson, McNeese
Sonia Chen, Louisiana Tech
Charlene Goreau, Xavier
Paris Corley, LSU
Jessica Golovin, LSU
SECOND TEAM
Trang Dao, UNO
Taylor Bridges, LSU
Ivone Alvaro, Tulane
Rhea Verma, Northwestern State
Ela Iwaniuk, Northwestern State
*Maria Alfaro, ULM
*Mariia Borodii, Xavier
* = Tie for final position
Photo Credit: Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services
