RICHMOND, Va. – Just days away from the Colonial Athletic Association Tennis Championships, the CAA announced the 2015 women's tennis postseason awards on Wednesday, April 15.
 
Elon rookie Olivia Lucas headlined the awards for the maroon and gold, earning first-team All-CAA honors in singles following an impressive freshman campaign. Additionally, rookie Kirsten Ward was a second-team All-CAA selection in singles and doubles, while Barbora Lazarova picked up second-team laurels in doubles and was named to the nine-member CAA All-Academic Team.
 
Lucas enters this week's CAA Women's Tennis Championship with an overall singles record of 12-6 this season. The first-year player has won eight of her last 10 matches heading into Friday's match and has played 12-of-18 competitions at the No. 1 singles position for the Phoenix. Lucas has a seven-match winning streak from March 18 to April 10, posting several impressive victories.
 
Ward has had a tremendous rookie campaign for the Phoenix, posting a combined 13 victories in singles and doubles play. Ward has played seven contests at the No. 1 singles position and seven at the No. 2 singles position in her first season. Heading into Friday's match, Ward has a winning streak of five in singles play. In doubles, Ward has played every match at the No. 1 position for the Phoenix, posting an overall record of 7-8, including a 6-5 mark with Lazarova.
 
Lazarova enters this week's tournament with a 12-7 singles mark and 8-10 doubles record. The senior has played 15-of-18 doubles matches at the No. 1 position, mostly with Ward. This marks Lazarova's third academic all-conference award.
 
First Team
 
Singles
Jeltje Loomans, William & Mary                    
Olivia Lucas, Elon                                                
Samantha Maddox, Coll. of Charleston       
Leeza Nemchinov, William & Mary    
Alyssa Ritchie, UNCW
Olivia Thaler, William & Mary 
 
Doubles
Jenny Falcone, Coll. of Charleston
Katherine Schofield, Coll. of Charleston
Jeltje Loomans, William & Mary
Leeza Nemchinov, William & Mary
Alex Huie, James Madison
Taylor Pinchoff, James Madison
 
Second Team
 
Singles
Taylor Pinchoff, James Madison
Nicole Pivonka, Drexel                  
Melanie Roy, William & Mary
Nicole Shakhnazarova, Towson                     
Annika Sillanpaa, UNCW
Kirsten Ward, Elon      
 
Doubles
Christine Kharkevitch, UNCW  
Annika Sillanpaa, UNCW
Barbora Lazarova, Elon
Kirsten Ward, Elon
Maria Groener, William & Mary 
Olivia Thaler, William & Mary      

2015 CAA Women's Tennis Player of the Year: Leeza Nemchinov, William & Mary
2015 CAA Women's Tennis Rookie of the Year: Olivia Thaler, William & Mary
2015 CAA Women's Tennis Coach of the Year: Angelo Anastopoulo, College of Charleston
 
All-Academic Team
Sarah Bowen, Hofstra
Cailey Easdale, Towson 
Jenny Falcone, College of Charleston 
Barbora Lazarova, Elon
Nataliya Naumova, Delaware
Rachel Nelson, James Madison 
Nicole Pivonka, Drexel 
Alyssa Ritchie, UNCW
Cecily Wuenscher, William & Mary