ROCK HILL, S.C. -- A stellar debut season with Carson-Newman women's tennis earned Ana Carla Resende a pair of South Atlantic Conference honors as she is a first-team singles selection, as well as Freshman of the Year, announced Wednesday by the league.
"I think it shows the effort we put on the court was worth it," Resende said. "I think it made me very happy."
Despite stepping foot on campus for the first time in January and missing the fall season, Resende was thrown into the fire and spent her entire season at the No. 1 singles position.
"I think (arriving late) for me it was more challenging, but I think it was good for competition."
Welcoming the challenge, she concluded the season with a 13-4 overall record and going 6-2 in conference play with her only losses being against nationally top 20 ranked Wingate University and Queens University. Resende defeated one division one opponent in the University of Chatanooga and stayed consistent in her winning ways against #12 Sewanee, #13 University of North Georgia and #45 Tusculum.
"I think my confidence now is a little bit higher," Resende said. "So, that shows me that I'm able to play with anyone and I can win."
First-year head coach Jim Frederick has had high praise for the freshman all season with the way she conducts herself on the court and off the court.
"Besides being a very, very good player," Frederick said of Resende, "She is absolutely a better human being. She got better with every match throughout the season, and she's really receptive to coaching."
Resende believes it was Coach Frederick and the support and encouragement of her team that helped her produce an individually successful first-year campaign.
"I think they have supported me a lot and helped with some issues or problems that I had. I think they are an important piece in this whole season."
2019 SAC Women's Tennis All-Conference
First Team Doubles
Annie McCullough / Caitlin McCullough, Tusculum
Sasha Davidzenka / Yana Fleyer, Queens
Michela Verpelli / Alisa Rudenko, Wingate
Second Team Doubles
Claudia De Andreis / Chyi Lee, Wingate
Gemma Southwick / Diana Babinets, Lenoir-Rhyne
Laura Dean / Mirna Curcic, Anderson
Honorable Mention Doubles
Brittani Brooks / Emilie Hansen, Tusculum
Julia Loos / Julia Valls, Lincoln Memorial
Julia Lopez / Africa Mota, Tusculum
First Team Singles
Annie McCullough, Tusculum
Michela Verpelli, Wingate
Yana Fleyer, Queens
Ana Carla Resende, Carson-Newman
Caitlin McCullough, Tusculum
Gemma Southwick, Lenoir-Rhyne
Second Team Singles
Alisa Rudenko, Wingate
Laura Dean, Anderson
Sasha Davidzenka, Queens
Claudia De Andreis, Wingate
Sophie Hirsch, Catawba
Isabel Fornies, Queens
Honorable Mention Singles
Julia Lopez, Tusculum
Viktorija Veselinova, Queens
Chyi Lee, Wingate
Erisa Onchi, Catawba
Julia Loos, Lincoln Memorial
Mirna Curcic, Anderson
Player of the Year
Annie McCullough, Tusculum
Freshman of the Year
Ana Carla Resende, Carson-Newman
Coach of the Year
Adam Jackson, Tusculum
