University of Houston Athletics
Vogasari Named American Player of the Year
4/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- University of Houston sophomore Despoina Vogasari was named 2015 American Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Year, the league office announced Thursday. Vogasari was joined on the All-Conference Team by senior Elena Kordolaimi and sophomore Tina Rupert.
The 2014 American Freshman of the Year, Vogasari is the third Cougar in program history to win conference player of the year honors, joining Margaret Redfearn (1983, Southwest Conference) and Sarah Borwell (2002, Conference USA). She has owned The American's highest Intercollegiate Tennis Association singles ranking throughout the spring season and currently paces the league at No. 81.
Playing primarily from the No. 1 singles position, Vogasari is 29-8, with an 18-5 dual match record. She won six of her seven completed matches against American opponents and knocked off six ranked opponents during the season. In October, Vogasari tallied the highlight of the American tennis season when she won the USTA/ITA Texas Regional Championship.
Kordolaimi has anchored Houston's second court throughout the season and leads the Cougars with a 32-6 singles record. The Lamia, Greece, native has equaled a school record with 24 dual wins and went 10-0 against opponents from The American this season. The senior reached the semifinals of the USTA/ITA Texas Regional Championship in October and won all three of her matches at the 2015 American Championship.
Rupert recovered from an early-season injury to post a 13-8 singles record in her sophomore season. The Ljublijana, Slovenia, native went 6-0 against competitors from The American and notched the clinching point in three of Houston's wins against conference teams. Rupert is also 13-4 in doubles matches this season, leading the Cougars with a .765 winning percentage in pairs competition.
Vogasari, Kordolaimi and Rupert were each selected to the All-American Athletic Conference Team in 2014 and earned repeat selections on Thursday. Kordolaimi was also an all-league selection in the Southland Conference as a freshman at Stephen F. Austin in 2012 and an All-Conference USA honoree as a sophomore in 2013.
The trio combined for four American Player of the Week honors in 2014 with Vogasari earning the title twice. The sophomore was also named American Player of the Month twice during the fall season.
 | UP NEXT FOR THE COUGARS |
Led by their All-Conference trio, the Cougars (22-5) are ranked No. 29 according to the ITA and earned an at-large bid to the 2015 NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championship on Tuesday. Houston will face No. 34 Mississippi State in the First Round at Noon CT on Friday, May 8 in Berkeley, Calif.
The winner of the match will advance to face either No. 3 Cal or Bryant at 2 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 9. The victorious team from that contest will advance to the final stage of the 2015 NCAA Championships, which will be held May 15-19 in Waco, Texas.
On Wednesday, Vogasari received The American's automatic bid to the NCAA Singles Championship. The 64-player event runs May 20-25 in Waco.
| 2015 AMERICAN WOMEN'S TENNIS AWARDS |
Player of the Year
Despoina Vogasari, Houston
Co-Freshmen of the Year
Alina Abdurakhimova, Temple
Ksenia Laskutova, Tulsa
Coach of the Year
Dean Orford, Tulsa
All-Conference Team
Caroline Eberhart, UCF
Kelly Poggensee-Wei, Cincinnati
Srna Stosljevic, UConn
Elena Kordolaimi, Houston
Tina Rupert, Houston
Despoina Vogasari, Houston
Anki Wind, Memphis
Hristina Dishkova, SMU
Alina Abdurakhimova, Temple
Naz Karagoz, Tulane
Marcelina Cichon, Tulsa
Renata Kuricova, Tulsa
Rongrong Leenabanchong, Tulsa
Saana Saarteinen, Tulsa
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