The University of Mississippi Athletics
Four Lady Rebel Netters Make All-SEC
6/21/1999 | Women's Tennis
May 6, 1999
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Ole Miss women's tennis team received some more great news Thursday, as four players were named All-SEC, while head coach Jerry Montgomery was named the SEC Coach-of-the-Year.
Montgomery garners SEC Coach-of-the-Year honors for the second time in his career (The first was in 1993 with Florida's Andi Brandi). Montgomery has a 203-98 (.674) dual match record in his 12 years at Ole Miss. This year the Lady Rebels won their first ever SEC Tournament title, upsetting top-seeded Florida in the championship match. The win propelled the Lady Rebels to a 21-4 record (12-2 SEC) and the No. 4 seed for the upcoming NCAA Championships.
"It's important to me that my family, my team and my assistant coach Kevin Cory share in this award," Montgomery said. "Without their significant contributions this would not have happened."
Ole Miss dominated the All-SEC first team with four players earning the honor. Ivona Mihailova earned first team honors after posting a 12-0 record at No. 3 singles. She also teamed with sister Irena to earn the accolade at No. 3 doubles. The two were the deciding match in the Lady Rebels' win over Florida in the SEC Tournament final. Mihailova is making her second appearance on the All-SEC team.
The All-American tandem of seniors Agnes Muzamel and Courtenay Chapman made the first team at No. 2 doubles, where they went 8-1 in the SEC. Muzamel also picked up second team honors in singles and became only the second player in the history of Ole Miss women's tennis to earn All-SEC honors all four years.
Chapman also was named the SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player after she won four matches in less than 24 hours to propel the Lady Rebels to the trophy. This is her second time to be named All-SEC.
"We appreciate the support of our athletic directors our faculty, staff and students, and the townspeople of Oxford for the support that they have provided our team this year." Montgomery said. "When we receive honors like these there are many people who are entitled to credit. Courtenay, Agnes, Ivona and Irena are all excellent student-athletes and they are a credit to Ole Miss. I am looking to see them play their best tennis in the NCAAs."
The coach of the year honor was particularly sweet for Montgomery, who has had a difficult season with his 19-month old daughter, Margaret Anne spending a month in the hospital with viral pneumonia.
"It has been particularly difficult with our daughter having been so critically ill," Montgomery said. "I prayed that our little girl would get well. I thought to myself, if she gets well than I will be happy. She's well and I am happy."
The Lady Rebels are preparing to host NCAA Championship first and second round matches at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center this Saturday and Sunday. The Lady Rebels will meet Alabama State in the first round Saturday at 8 a.m.
1999 SEC WOMEN'S TENNIS AWARDS
FIRST-TEAM ALL-SEC (By Position)Singles
1. Vanessa Castellano, Georgia2. Stephanie Nickitas, Florida3. Ivona Mihailova, Ole Miss4. Emily Woodside, Tennessee5. Traci Green, Florida6. Lynn-Yin Tan, South CarolinaDoubles
1. Marissa Catlin-Vanessa Castellano, Georgia2. Agnes Muzamel-Courtenay; Chapman, Ole Miss3. Irena Mihailova-Ivona Mihailova, Ole MissSECOND TEAM ALL-SEC (At-Large)
Singles - Stephanie Hazlett, Florida; Whitney Laiho, Florida; Aarthi Venkatesan, Georgia; Agnes Muzamel, Ole Miss; Katarina Markovski, South Carolina; Julie Ditty, Vanderbilt.
Doubles - Jessica Lehnhoff-Stephanie Nickitas, Florida; Stephanie Hazlett-Whitney Laiho, Florida; Esther Knox-Jane Reid, Georgia.
SEC COACH OF THE YEAR
Jerry Montgomery, Ole Miss
SEC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Vanessa Castellano, Georgia
SEC TOURNAMENT MVP
Courtenay Chapman, Ole Miss
SEC TOURNAMENT SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Alison Ojeda, Tennessee
