University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Two Lady Eagles Earn All-Conference Honors
5/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
May 1, 2007
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- -
 Stephanie Dellocono  | |
Southern Miss placed two players on the third team All-Conference team, junior Ali Blackett and freshman Stephanie Dellocono.
Blackett was instrumental in helping Southern Miss earn its first national ranking in the program's history. She finished the spring season with a 13-1 dual match record, while recording a 4-0 record in Conference USA regular season play. She was named C-USA Athlete of the Week (Mar. 6), while winning her first 10-dual matches to start the spring. She finished with an 11-1 record at No. 3 singles, but was 2-0 at No. 2 singles. She became one of our players on the squad to post 20 or more wins. Blackett teamed with Grace Kammerer in doubles, finishing with a 13-2 record in dual match.
Dellocono finished the spring with a 17-2 dual match record, including a 12-1 record at No. 4 singles. She won her opening match at the C-USA tournament with a 6-3, 6-3, win over Magdalena Czernik of UAB. Dellocono had a 17-match winning streak during the season, dating back to Nov. 3, 2006. She won her first 14-dual matches. She teamed with Lauren Gutterman, playing at No. 2 doubles and posting a 16-5 record. The duo won their first seven matches before suffering their first loss at UTEP (9-7).
Southern Miss recorded the most wins in the program's history with 17 wins and only four losses. The Lady Eagles return six letterwinners from next season.
Marshall's sophomore Kellie Schmitt earned C-USA Player of the Year and All-League first-team recognition. Schmitt is currently C-USA's only ranked singles player, coming in at No. 75 in the latest FILA/ITA rankings.
2007 Conference USA Women's Tennis Postseason Awards
All-Conference USA First Team
Natalia Bubien, SMU
Julie Chao, Rice
Santie Delport, Tulsa
Claire Rietsch, SMU
Leila Salek, Houston
Kellie Schmitt, Marshall
All-Conference USA Second Team
Weronika Bloczynska, UTEP
Mireia Gol, East Carolina
Kindsay Grimes, Tulsa
Elvira Serrott, UCF
Karolina Soor, Marshall
Julia von Samson, UAB
All-Conference Third Team
Ali Blackett, Southern Miss
Jennifer Chay, SMU
Stephanie Dellocono, Southern Miss
Gulsah Esen, UAB
Tiffany Lee, Rice
Carla Zabaleta, Tulsa
All-Conference USA Doubles Team
Kellie Schmitt / Lynzee Kever, Marshall
Natalia Bubien / Claire Rietsch, SMU
Kinday Grimes / Carla Zabaleta, Tulsa
Coach of the Year: Dean Orford, Tulsa
Player of the Year: Kellie Schmitt, Marshall
Freshman of the Year: Julie Chao, Rice
Newcomer of the Year: Leila Salek, Houston
Outstanding Singles Player of the Championship
Santie Delport, Tulsa
Outstanding Doubles Team of the Championship
Kinday Grimes / Carla Zabaleta, Tulsa