DePaul University Athletics
Avgeri Honored as BIG EAST Player of the Year
5/6/2021 12:46:00 PM | WOMEN'S TENNIS
Kizelbasheva and Kuzmenkova All-BIG EAST Second Team
CHICAGO – What better way for Aspasia Avgeri to cap off a splendid tennis career than with the crowning achievement of her time in Lincoln Park.
On Thursday, the graduate student from Athens, Greece was honored as the BIG EAST Player of the Year after leading DePaul to a runner-up finish at the April 26 BIG EAST Championship in Cayce, S.C.
Avgeri was a unanimous pick by conference coaches for All-BIG EAST First Team while teammates Yuliya Kizelbasheva and Alina Kuzmenkova were voted onto the All-BIG EAST Second Team.
Coaches could not vote for their own players.
Avgeri becomes the third Blue Demon to be hailed as the BIG EAST's best joining Patricia Fargas in 2014 and Yuliya Shupenia in 2015. Both Avgeri and Kuzmenkova were repeat All-BIG EAST selections from 2019.
A victory over Butler All-BIG EAST First Team selection Natalie Boesing in the conference quarterfinals extended Avgeri's winning streak to 10, and she wound up winning 10 of her final 11 matches. She also teamed with Maddie Yergler to go a team-best 11-4 in doubles.
Her most notable singles win came on April 9 in Cincinnati with a 6-4, 7-6(7-5) triumph over Xavier's nationally ranked No. 1 player Ahmeir Kyle. Overall, Avgeri finished with a 5-1 record against BIG EAST opponents including the postseason.
Kuzmenkova was steady at No. 2 singles with an 8-6 mark and was 5-2 against BIG EAST competition including postseason play. DePaul coach Marisa Arce adjusted her doubles lineup pairing Kuzmenkova with Lenka Antonijevic with the duo going 4-1 in the No. 1 position.
Kizelbasheva finished with an 8-5 singles record and was 2-1 against BIG EAST opponents during the regular season. She earned the BIG EAST Athlete of the Week accolade on March 3 after going 4-0 and scoring the winning point in singles victories over Creighton and Kansas City.
BIG EAST Women's Tennis Player of the Year
Aspasia Avgeri, DePaul, GS
BIG EAST Women's Tennis Freshman of the Year
Anna Roggenburk, Xavier, RS-Fr.
BIG EAST Women's Tennis Coaching Staff of the Year
Xavier
All-BIG EAST First Team
(listed alphabetically)
Aspasia Avgeri, DePaul ^
Natalie Boesing, Butler
Annalise Klopfer, Villanova ^
Ahmeir Kyle, Xavier ^
Jessica Livianu, St. John's ^
Anna Roggenburk, Xavier ^
All-BIG EAST Second Team
(listed alphabetically)
Julianne Bou, Connecticut
Lexi DeNucci, Villanova
Yuliya Kizelbasheva, DePaul
Kate Kruegar, Creighton
Alina Kuzmenkova, DePaul
Kat Lyman, Xavier
^ Unanimous selection
On Thursday, the graduate student from Athens, Greece was honored as the BIG EAST Player of the Year after leading DePaul to a runner-up finish at the April 26 BIG EAST Championship in Cayce, S.C.
Avgeri was a unanimous pick by conference coaches for All-BIG EAST First Team while teammates Yuliya Kizelbasheva and Alina Kuzmenkova were voted onto the All-BIG EAST Second Team.
Coaches could not vote for their own players.
Avgeri becomes the third Blue Demon to be hailed as the BIG EAST's best joining Patricia Fargas in 2014 and Yuliya Shupenia in 2015. Both Avgeri and Kuzmenkova were repeat All-BIG EAST selections from 2019.
A victory over Butler All-BIG EAST First Team selection Natalie Boesing in the conference quarterfinals extended Avgeri's winning streak to 10, and she wound up winning 10 of her final 11 matches. She also teamed with Maddie Yergler to go a team-best 11-4 in doubles.
Her most notable singles win came on April 9 in Cincinnati with a 6-4, 7-6(7-5) triumph over Xavier's nationally ranked No. 1 player Ahmeir Kyle. Overall, Avgeri finished with a 5-1 record against BIG EAST opponents including the postseason.
Kuzmenkova was steady at No. 2 singles with an 8-6 mark and was 5-2 against BIG EAST competition including postseason play. DePaul coach Marisa Arce adjusted her doubles lineup pairing Kuzmenkova with Lenka Antonijevic with the duo going 4-1 in the No. 1 position.
Kizelbasheva finished with an 8-5 singles record and was 2-1 against BIG EAST opponents during the regular season. She earned the BIG EAST Athlete of the Week accolade on March 3 after going 4-0 and scoring the winning point in singles victories over Creighton and Kansas City.
BIG EAST Women's Tennis Player of the Year
Aspasia Avgeri, DePaul, GS
BIG EAST Women's Tennis Freshman of the Year
Anna Roggenburk, Xavier, RS-Fr.
BIG EAST Women's Tennis Coaching Staff of the Year
Xavier
All-BIG EAST First Team
(listed alphabetically)
Aspasia Avgeri, DePaul ^
Natalie Boesing, Butler
Annalise Klopfer, Villanova ^
Ahmeir Kyle, Xavier ^
Jessica Livianu, St. John's ^
Anna Roggenburk, Xavier ^
All-BIG EAST Second Team
(listed alphabetically)
Julianne Bou, Connecticut
Lexi DeNucci, Villanova
Yuliya Kizelbasheva, DePaul
Kate Kruegar, Creighton
Alina Kuzmenkova, DePaul
Kat Lyman, Xavier
^ Unanimous selection
Players Mentioned
/ WOMEN'S TENNIS
/ WOMEN'S TENNIS
/ WOMEN'S TENNIS
/ WOMEN'S TENNIS
/ WOMEN'S TENNIS
WTEN: Yuliya Kizelbasheva Be the Match Interview
Thursday, August 31
Yuliya Kizelbasheva: Be The Match Interview
Thursday, August 31
REACTION: DePaul Women's Tennis NCAA Tournament
Tuesday, May 02
DePaul Tennis: Talents and Tricks
Wednesday, April 26