INDIANAPOLIS – Ava Thielman was named the 2019 Horizon League Player of the Year the league office announced Thursday. Thielman becomes the first student-athlete in program history to earn conference player of the year honors.
 
In addition to Player of the Year accolades, the Shelby Township, Mich. native was named to the All-Horizon League First Team.
 
The sophomore finished the regular season with an impressive 16-5 No. 1 singles record, 8-1 in league play. Thielman's 16 singles wins at the No. 1 spot is the most among the Horizon League.
 
In the last 10 matches, she has boasted a 9-1 record including four straight wins heading into the Horizon League Championship.
 
Darya Maltseva was named to the All-Horizon League Second Team after earning 13 wins on the year in No. 2 singles, tied for the most among the conference.
 
The duo of Thielman and Maltseva have tallied nine wins at the No. 1 doubles spot, a team best.
 
The Horizon League Championship is set for Friday, April 26 through Sunday, April 28 in West Lafayette, Ind. at the Schwartz Tennis Center. Oakland will enter the tournament as the No. 3 seed, its best seeding since entering the Horizon League.
 
2019 Horizon League Women's Tennis Award Winners
Player of the Year: Ava Thielman, Oakland
Freshman of the Year: Mayya Perova, Milwaukee
Herb Foster Sportsmanship Award: Chelsea Apawti, Detroit Mercy
Coach of the Year: Shannon Tully, UIC
 
All-Horizon League First Team (alphabetical by school)
Isabella Spindler, Cleveland State
Jasmine Apawti, Detroit Mercy
Alexandra Belle, Milwaukee
Margita Sunjic, Northern Kentucky
Ava Thielman, Oakland
Lejla Colic, UIC
 
All-Horizon League Second Team (alphabetical by school)
Klara Mrcela, Cleveland State
Maria Koo, Northern Kentucky
Darya Maltseva, Oakland
Lucie Prochazkova, UIC
Karyna Bihel, UIC
Imaan Hassim, Youngstown State
 
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