ROCK HILL, S.C. – The South Atlantic Conference has revealed their 2022 Men's and Women's Tennis Annual Awards as the Lincoln Memorial University programs were represented on the women's side as sophomore Valentina Ascarrunz and graduate Julia Valls were named to the All-SAC Third Team singles while the duo picked up an All-SAC Third Team doubles nod.
 
"These two have had an outstanding season, and both deserve this honor," said head coach Marc Walters. "The SAC has proven itself this year to be one of the nation's elite DII conferences with 8 nationally ranked teams. For Julia and Valentina to be recognized for their success is a testament to their toughness and commitment through a demanding and long season."
 
Ascarrunz finished the season going 15-5 in singles play, mainly at the No. 2 position where she went 14-4 and played twice at the No. 3 spot, going 1-1. She has helped the Lady Railsplitters to a 16-9 overall record and a 5-7 in conference play, helping the 'Splitters earn the eighth seed in the 2022 SAC Tournament. This marks the second All-SAC singles selection for Ascarrunz as she was named Second Team All-SAC in 2021.
 
Valls ended the year with the best record on the team as she finished 17-4 over three positions. She tallied a 14-3 mark at the No. 3 position en route to helping the No. 51 Lady Railsplitters to the eighth seed in the conference tournament. This marks Valls' first all-conference mark in her LMU career.
 
The duo of Ascarrunz and Valls were also selected to the All-Conference doubles Third Team as they collected a season-best 15-4 record, including wins over No. 16 Newberry's duo Castandea/Chamoun, No. 24 Wingate's duo Ciaccia/Sambyakugari and No. 31 Lenoir-Rhyne's duo of Southwick/Whelan.
 
2022 SAC Women's Tennis All-Conference
 
First Team Doubles
Jill Morse/Marie Bertran De Balanda, Queens
Camilla Ciaccia/Suzuka Sambyakugari, Wingate
Nastassia Chamoun/Lucy Spice, Newberry
 
Second Team Doubles
Ana Carla Resende/Summer Reeves, Carson-Newman
Gemma Southwick / Lucy Whelan, Lenoir-Rhyne
Chloe Kosmrlj/Alex Lopez, Wingate
 
Third Team Doubles
Catherine Blouin/Laura Alvarez Tello, Anderson
Valentina Ascarrunz/Julia Valls, Lincoln Memorial
Liza Akimenko/Katya Akimenko, UVA Wise
 
First Team Singles
Zulay Castaneda, Newberry
Camilla Ciaccia, Wingate
Ana Carla Resende, Carson-Newman
Viktorija Veselinova, Queens
Jill Morse, Queens
Catherine Blouin, Anderson
 
Second Team Singles
Nastassia Chamoun, Newberry
Anna Greer, Anderson
Liza Akimenko, UVA Wise
Jessica Binzari, Coker
Gemma Southwick, Lenoir-Rhyne
Tabitha Howe, Tusculum
 
Third Team Singles
Anamaria Kiszner-Luca, Limestone
Hanna Axelsson, Queens
Violetta Khisamova, Carson-Newman
Valentina Ascarrunz, Lincoln Memorial
Evgeniya Pugina, Lenoir-Rhyne
Julia Valls, Lincoln Memorial
 
Player of the Year
Zulay Castaneda, Newberry
 
Freshman of the Year
Catherine Blouin, Anderson
 
Coach of the Year
Billy Boykin, Queens