Alina Shazhko Enters Final Season Nationally Ranked
9/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Sept. 12, 2011
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin women's tennis player, Alina Shazhko, became the first player in program history to receive a preseason national ranking, as well as the first player to be invited to the All-American Championship tournament.
"Being the first 'Jack ever invited to play in the All-American is a huge honor for both Alina and our program," head coach Patrick Sullivan said. "She will travel to Pacific Palisades, Calif., to compete in the ITA Women's All-American Championships. It is the premier fall tournament in college tennis and features the top 128 players at the NCAA Division I level, as voted by coaches.
"After her outstanding 2010-11 season, I was extremely disappointed that she was passed over by the coaches in our conference in last year's awards, but I think that she would agree that a trip to California and the respect she has earned from the top coaches around the country more than makes up for it. Even greater than this accolade is the rare opportunity to go up against the best of the best. So she will be working hard over the next two weeks to make sure that she's ready to compete and not just going as a tourist."
Shazhko enters the season ranked #113 in singles and is the only Southland Conference player to receive a national ranking or receive an invitation to the All-America Championships. Shazhko helped guide the `Jacks to a program-best 20-5 mark as a junior. She finished the year with a 28-7 overall record, which included a 20-3 record during the spring.
-SFA-
