The Wilkes University women's tennis team had five players voted as first and second team all conference performers, as well as the Player, Rookie, and Coach of the Year in a vote done by coaches around the league.
Freshman
Melanie Nolt (Manheim/Manheim Central) had an amazing first year for the Lady Colonels, going 15-4 from the number one position as well as undefeated in conference play. She was also 13-6 in doubles action, pairing up with both Katrina Lynn and
Victoria Bybel (Lancaster/Lancaster Mennonite). For her efforts, the freshman from Manheim, Pa. was named First Team All-Freedom Conference, as well as Player of the Year. She took home the number one individual title in the MAC Tournament, and she and Lynn were number one doubles champions as well.
Katrina Lynn was also named to her first all conference team, receiving First Team All-Freedom Conference honors while being named the Rookie of the Year. The freshman from Berwick, Pa. was 14-2 on the season in singles play out of the number two position, and 13-3 in doubles play.
Also voted First Team All-Freedom Conference was senior
Xiaoqiao Zhang (Zhengzhou City, China/Warren Hills (N.J.)), who received the honor for the fourth time in her record-setting career at Wilkes. Zhang went 9-2 from multiple positions in singles play this season, and teamed up with many partners to record a 10-3 doubles mark.
Juniors
Victoria Bybel (Lancaster/Lancaster Mennonite) and
Michelle Knight (Roaming Shores, OH/Trinity) also received all conference honors, as both players were named to the Second Team All-Freedom Conference team. Bybel went 4-4 in singles play this season, as well as 5-6 in doubles play where she was mainly partnered with Nolt in the number one spot. Knight was 7-4 in singles action, but never lost a conference match. She also recorded an 11-4 doubles record, and was mainly partnered with
Rebekah Shanaman (Richland/ELCO) in the number three position.
Head Coach Christ Leicht was name the Freedom Conference Coach of the Year for his efforts in the 2009-10 season. Leicht led Wilkes to a 16-5 (6-0) record this year, the third most wins in school history. He also coached the Lady Colonels to their first ever NCAA Tournament victory. This is the fifth time Coach Leicht has received the honor in his eight years at Wilkes.