April 30, 2001

DALLAS, Texas - Alena Jecminkova, Eva Novotna, Hayley McIver, Paulina Castillejos, Kathy Chuda and Petra Sedlmajerova were honored as Big 12 Conference tennis position champions at the annual banquet for conference student-athletes held during the Big 12 Tennis Championships this past weekend.

In singles, Sedlmajerova was crowned runner-up at the No. 2 position, while Chuda was the No. 4 champion and Novotna tied as the No. 3 champion. Sedlmajerova posted 20 wins this season, including a 9-2 Big 12 mark. She was recently honored to the All-Big 12 team. Chuda notched 17 wins this year, and also went 9-2 in league play. Novotna, who won the honor with Linda Faltynkova of Oklahoma State, has a team-high 23 victories this season, while she won nine Big 12 matches.

In doubles, Jecminkova and Novotna were the No. 1 position champions, while McIver and Castillejos, both freshmen, tied as No. 3 champions with Dominika Olszewska and Katia Vasylyeva of Oklahoma State. Jecminkova and Novotna won 16 matches this season, including an 8-3 mark in the league. Jecminkova was also All-Big 12 in singles, while the duo was All-Big 12 in doubles. McIver and Castillejos posted 12 wins this season, including an 8-3 conference mark.

Kansas State is currently ranked No. 51 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, while Jecminkova is ranked No. 90 as an individual. The Wildcats just completed play in the Big 12 Tournament where they advanced to the quarterfinals. K-State, which is 12-10 overall, now awaits word on a possible NCAA Regional Tournament berth or a NCAA Championships individual selection.

2001 Big 12 Conference Tennis Position Champions

No. 1 Singles Champion - Maria Phillips, Oklahoma State Runner-up - Viviana Mracnova, Oklahoma

No. 2 Singles Champion - Katja Kovac, Baylor Runner-up - Petra Sedlmajerova, Kansas State

No. 3 Singles Champion - Eva Novotna, KSU, Linda Faltynkova, OSU Runner-up - Ndali Ijomah, NU, Vida Mulec, Baylor

No. 4 Singles Champion - Kathy Chuda, Kansas State Runner-up - Karin Andersson, Baylor

No. 5 Singles Champion - Katia Vasylyeva, Oklahoma State Runner-up - Elissa Kinard, Nebraska

No. 6 Singles Champion - Roberta Spencer, TAM, Frida Borjesson, BU Runner-up - Ashleigh Dolman, Oklahoma State

No. 1 Doubles Champion - Alena Jecminkova/Eva Novotna, KSU Ashleigh Dolman/Maria Phillips, Oklahoma State Runner-up - Katja Kovac/Jahnavi Parekh, Baylor

No. 2 Doubles Champion - Linda Faltynkova/Katia Kolodynska, OSU Runner-up - Lia Domingo/Suzanne Bjorkman, Colorado

No. 3 Doubles Champion - Paulina Castillejos/Hayley McIver, KSU Dominika Olszewska/Katia Vasylyeva, Oklahoma State Runner-up - Lauren Carey/Dominique Lemperle, CU Cassie Drake/Caitlin Thompson, Missouri