May 11, 2006
WACO, Texas - The Intercollegiate Tennis Association released its regional awards this week in women's tennis news. For Baylor's Southwest region, three Bears were recognized for outstanding play and sportsmanship during the 2005-06 season.
Head coach Joey Scrivano was named the 2006 ITA Regional Coach of the Year. Scrivano led his Bears to regular and post-season Big 12 titles, a first in program history. Under Scrivano, Baylor has earned three regular-season conference championships (2003, 2005, 2006) and three bids to the NCAA tournament (2003, 2005, and 2006). Overall this season, Scrivano's Bears are 25-3 as they look to host the NCAA Regional Tournament Friday and Saturday. Scrivano is the second Baylor women's tennis coach (Dave Luedtke earned the award in 1996, 1997, 2000) to claim the prestigious award.
Junior Zuzana Cerna was named the region's Player to Watch with her record-breaking play this season. Cerna posted the most singles wins in a season in Baylor's program history as she has tallied 43 wins so far this season. In the spring, Cerna has lost only one match boasting a 26-1 dual mark, playing all her spring matches in the No. 2 spot. Cerna also went undefeated in conference matches, 11-0. Currently Cerna enters the NCAA tournament on a 20-match winning streak.
Senior Zuzana Krchnakova became Baylor's second player to earn the Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship. This season Krchnakova has mainly played the No. 5 and No. 6 spots for the Bears. Overall this spring, Krchnakova has earned a 30-13 record which includes her impressive 20-4 dual match mark. Krchnakova is one of three seniors on this year's squad and is the only Baylor Bear to have played on the team during all three seasons in which Baylor claimed the regular-season Big 12 title.
The Bears are preparing for the NCAA tournament which begins Friday, May 12. In the first round, Baylor plays host to Texas Southern at the Baylor Tennis Center. The first-ever meeting of the two programs is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. Live scoring for the match will be available at www.baylorbears.com.
