INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – After earning a spot in the upcoming 2021 Horizon League Tournament, three members of the Cleveland State women's tennis team were honored with postseason accolades from the league Thursday, with Miruna Vasilescu, Blanche Lenoan and Klara Mrcela all earning postseason awards.
Vasilescu was named the 2021 Horizon League Player of the Year and First Team honoree, while Lenoan and Mrcela both earned a spot on the All-League Second Team.
MIRUNVA VASILESCU | SR | PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Vasilescu picks up Player of the Year honors after posting an overall record of 16-3 at the No. 1 spot, including a near-perfect 11-1 record in Horizon League play. Vasilescu's 11 wins marked a league-high at the top of the lineup, with all of her league wins coming in straight sets.
As a three-time Horizon League Singles Player of the Week honoree, Vasilescu enters tournament play having won 14 out of her last 15 matches.
In doubles, Vasilescu has spent the entire season at the No. 1 spot, playing primarily with Klara Mrcela. The duo finished with a 6-3 record on the season, including a 3-2 mark in league matches.
Vasilescu is the third Viking to be named Player of the Year, and the first to earn the honor since 2014, while she is the eighth Viking to earn a spot on the All-League First Team.
BLANCHE LENOAN | R-SR | SECOND TEAM
Lenoan earns a spot on the All-League Second Team after finishing with a 15-4 overall singles record, including a 9-3 mark against league opponents. Lenoan's 15 wins ranked second on the team, while she was one of just seven league players to post 15+ victories on the season.
During league play, Lenoan spent the majority of her time at No. 2 singles where she finished with a 7-1 record against league opponents. During the regular season finale at Milwaukee, Lenoan picked up the 60th singles win of her career, and currently ranks 12th on the CSU Singles Wins List.
Lenoan was part of Cleveland State's most successful doubles team this season, as she teamed up with Kateryna Avram to notch a 14-5 record at No. 2 doubles. In league matches only, the duo finished with a 9-3 record, earning Horizon League Doubles Team of the Week accolades, while they currently rank sixth on the CSU Doubles Wins List with 24 victories as a duo.
This marks the first postseason honor for Lenoan, while she is the 15th Viking to earn a spot on the All-League Second Team.
KLARA MRCELA | SR | SECOND TEAM
Mrcela was named to the All-League Second Team after posting an 8-4 singles record against league opponents playing primarily at the No. 3 spot.
Entering tournament play, Mrcela is on a team-best eight-match win streak, as she finished the month of April with a perfect 8-0 singles record.
In doubles, Mrcela has spent the entire season at the No. 1 spot, playing with Miruna Vasilescu. The duo finished with a 6-3 record on the season, including a 3-2 mark in league matches.
This marks the second time that Mrcela has been named to the All-League Second Team, as she becomes the ninth Viking all-time to earn multiple postseason accolades.
2021 Horizon League Postseason Awards
Player of the Year: Miruna Vasilescu, Cleveland State
Freshman of the Year: Greta Carbone, Milwaukee
Coach of the Year: Shannon Tully, UIC
Herb Foster Sportsmanship Award: Maria Koo, Northern Kentucky & Lucie Prochazkova, UIC
First Team
Miruna Vasilescu, Cleveland State
Greta Carbone, Milwaukee
Margita Sunjic, Northern Kentucky
Maria Koo, Northern Kentucky
Agnes Gustafsson, UIC
Lucie Prochazkova, UIC
Second Team
Blanche Lenoan, Cleveland State
Klara Mrcela, Cleveland State
Ana Jover, UIC
Tamara Malazonia, UIC
Cecilia Rosas, Youngstown State
Tamara Teufl, Youngstown State
