INDIANAPOLIS – Lewis University junior Zsofia Lanstiak has been named the unanimous Great Lakes Valley Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Year, it was announced by the conference office at the 2013 GLVC Tennis Championship banquet Thursday evening in Indianapolis, Ind. Lanstiak’s mentor, Brett Bridel, was voted by his peers as GLVC Coach of the Year, while Drury newcomer Natalia Kozel was tabbed as GLVC Freshman of the Year. In addition, Kozel and Lanstiak were joined by 15 others as All-Conference selections.
Lanstiak, a native of Budapest, Hungary, finished the regular season with an impressive 22-1 singles record and a 21-2 mark in doubles. She was a perfect 15-0 at No. 1 singles and was 14-1 at No. 1 doubles this season. Lanstiak also earned the 2012 GLVC Player of the Year award, making her the conference’s first repeat winner since the Flyers’ Yuliya Kuznets was the league’s top honor in 2004 and 2005.
Kozel’s distinction as the conference’s top freshman marks the second straight season Drury has earned the newcomer award. During her first season with the Panthers, the Stargard, Poland, native went 13-5 in singles, including an 11-4 mark at the No. 2 spot, and 15-3 in doubles, primarily at the No. 2 position. With Stefanie Monsch honored last year, Drury is now just the third program in conference history to have repeat Freshman of the Year recipients. Lewis’ Jana Schulz and Zsofia Kranczicki were recognized in 2010 and 2011, while Indianapolis’ Pamela Rodriguez and Janik Belisle were named the top rookies back in 1997 and 1998, respectively.
Bridel earns his second consecutive GLVC Coach of the Year honor and garners the third such award for Lewis in conference history as Jill Siegfried was recognized in 2004. The Flyers’ head coach led his squad to a 6-0 mark in conference play and the outright GLVC East Division crown, while winning the last nine matches to move to 12-3 on the season. In addition to Lanstiak, Bridel also mentored fellow junior Kranczicki to All-Conference distinction.
Joining the two Flyers and Kozel on the All-Conference team were Belalrmine freshman Michelle McFerran, Drury’s Monsch and senior and unanimous selection Beatriz Juan, Indianapolis freshmen Macey Speer and Allie Smith, McKendree juniors Adirana Gonzalez and Guiliana Gonzalez, Missouri-St. Louis freshman Renee Verboven and junior Louisa Werner, Rockhurst seniors Karsyn Betts and Christine Schatz, Saint Joseph’s senior Katee Sanderson, and William Jewell junior Kristen Stivers and senior Carli Bisesi. The All-Conference squad, which was to combine eight individuals for both the East and West Divisions, was enhanced to 17 members following a tie in the West. Drury paced all GLVC programs with three All-Conference honorees.
2013 GLVC ALL-CONFERENCE
Michelle McFerran, Fr., BU
BEATRIZ JUAN, SR., DU
Natalia Kozel, Fr., DU
Stefanie Monsch, So., DU
Macey Speer, Fr., UINDY
Allie Smith, Fr., UINDY
Zsofia Kranczicki, Jr., LEWIS
ZSOFIA LANSTIAK, JR., LEWIS
Adirana Gonzalez, Jr., MCK
Guiliana Gonzalez, Jr., MCK
Renee Verboven, Fr., UMSL
Louisa Werner, Jr., UMSL
Karsyn Betts, Sr., RU
Christine Schatz, Sr., RU
Katee Sanderson, Sr., SJC
Carli Bisesi, Sr., WJC
Kristen Stivers, Jr., WJC
Unanimous Selection in ALL CAPS
*17 members due to tie
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Zsofia Lanstiak, Jr., LEWIS
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Natalia Kozel, DU
COACH OF THE YEAR
Brett Bridel, LEWIS