The CUNY Athletic Conference has named Yuliya Orkis from Brooklyn College and Madiha Mulla from the College of Staten Island as CUNYAC/Hospital for Special Surgery Women's Tennis Player and Rookie of the year, respectively. Ahmad Odetalla from Brooklyn was named Coach of the Year while Anna Ko from York earned the Sportsmanship Award. The Brooklyn Bulldogs and the Dolphins of Staten Island would tie for the most team accolades with four each while Baruch and Hunter snagged three a piece and both Lehman and York grabbed one.
Yuliya Orkis, the 2011 CUNYAC Player of the Year, followed up her performance with an unblemished overall record in both doubles and singles. The sophomore standout, was 10-0 overall and 7-0 CUNYAC at number one singles while playing to 8-0 and 6-0 at number one doubles overall and in CUNYAC, respectively. Orkis received two CUNYAC Player of the Week honors this season throughout her unbelievable overall season. The CUNYAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month for this past September has certainly made an impact at Brooklyn; winning Player of the Year both seasons she has competed.
"I feel amazing and grateful to have received this award once more," said Yuliya Orkis on her second straight CUNYAC Player of the Year selection. "I hope that this reflects my commitment and dedication to my team and that this will push my teammates to bump me out of this spot, come next season. I owe a lot of my success to my supportive coaches and teammates."
College of Staten Island rookie Mediha Mulla has been a standout all season. The Susan Wagner product had an outstanding 11-3 overall record and 6-1 CUNYAC record in singles as she played between the third and fifth flights. In doubles, she had a 10-3 overall and 6-1 CUNYAC record between the first and second flights. Mulla also received one CUNYAC Rookie of the Week accolade this season.
“Mediha has had a tremendous approach to the game," opined Head Coach Paul Ricciardi. "She is an incredibly hard worker, putting in every ounce of effort while approaching it all with a smile on her face. She has given our team a tremendous boost as a freshman and we know that with her work rate, the best is yet to come.”
Anna Ko is a York Cardinal who embodies the perfect balance between competiveness and sportsmanship. The veteran lost only one singles match this season with a 10-1 record. Along the way, she set a single-season record for most wins at York and earned the respect of every opponent.
“Sportsmanship is always exemplified by the actions of Anna Ko. She is always fair kind and considerate of her challenging opponent,” said Head Coach Greg Jackson. “Anna has the ability to make an opponent feel good about herself regardless of the outcome. She has only lost one match. She steps her game regardless to what position she is requested to engage. A very hardworking, thoughtful individual. No matter what she never falters, keeps going, hitting the elusive last ball whether she wins or loses, she always has a positive attitude.”
Brooklyn Head Coach Ahmad Odetalla wins his second consecutive Coach of the Year award as his team finishes with a 10-3 overall record and a 7-1 CUNYAC record. Under his direction, the team finished in a three-way tie for first in CUNYAC that eventually gave them the second seed heading into the CUNYAC Hospital for Special Surgery Tennis Championship. The Coach has been known for developing and recruiting talented players and this year is no different as he has three all-stars including the Player of the Year. He will be looking to continue his career success in the postseason where he has guided his team to the finals for two consecutive seasons.
“Obviously, it’s an honor to receive this award from the conference and the other coaches,” said head coach Ahmad Odetalla. “Coach Perez (Assistant Coach Ruth Perez) and I work hard to instill hard work and dedication upon the team. It feels nice to be recognized for the work we put in.”
2012 CUNYAC/Hospital for Special Surgery Women's Tennis All-Stars
Player of the Year: Yuliya Orkis, Brooklyn
Rookie of the Year: Madiha Mulla, Staten Island
Coach of the Year: Ahmad Odetalla, Brooklyn
Sportsmanship Award: Anna Ko, York
First-Team All-Stars
Jean Baak, Staten Island
Sabrina Bragerton-Nasert, Staten Island
Patricia Gomes Correia, Baruch
Shena Joseph, Hunter
Jane Selegean, Hunter
Ilona Stoyko, Staten Island
Second-Team All-Stars
Nelly Blinova, Lehman
Gianna Gelosi, Brooklyn
Amandine Le Goupil Maier, Baruch
Jennafer Mukofsky, Baruch
Maria Sanz, Brooklyn
Gina Yeo, Hunter
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