DENTON, Texas (4/18/2012) — Arkansas State freshman Tamara Slijepcevic was named to the All-Sun Belt Conference Tennis Team at the championship banquet Wednesday night on the campus of the University of North Texas. 

The Novi Sad, Serbia native finished the season with a 15-2 record on the year and ended the season on a nine-match winning streak. She went 6-0 in SBC play, including a 6-2, 4-6, 15-13 victory over Denver's Elena Najera in the early part of the season.

“I am very excited for Tamara to win this award,” ASU tennis coach Marina Engelbrecht said. “She has worked hard this season and has improved her game throughout the year. Her teammates and I are very proud of her for this outstanding accomplishment.”

Slijepcevic began the season by winning her first eight matches and lost just two sets during that run. In the fall season she finished second at the ASU Red Wolf Invitational tournament in October and also advanced to the main draw of the ITA Regional Tennis Tournament. She also earned a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Oregon's Julie Metzger at the Cougar Fall Draw in Houston, Texas.

Denver's Sophia Bergner, Florida International's Rita Maisak, Louisiana-Monroe's Medy Blankvoort, North Texas' Kseniya Bardabush and Troy's Karoline Gymel joined Slijepcevic as All-Sun Belt Conference selections. 

The A-State tennis team earned the No. 8 seed in the 2012 Sun Belt Conference Tennis Tournament and will play No. 9 Florida-Atlantic at 11:30 a.m. in the first round. The winner of the match will advance to play the top-seed North Texas at 11:30 a.m. on Friday.

All-Sun Belt Conference Tennis Team

WOMEN

Singles

Tamara Slijepcevic, Arkansas State

Sophia Bergner, Denver

Rita Maisak, FIU

Medy Blankvoort, ULM

Kseniya Bardabush, North Texas

Karoline Grymel, Troy

Doubles

Sophia Bergner/Steffi Rath, Denver

Nadia Lee/Barbora Vykydalova, North Texas

Karoline Grymel/Lyubov Dorofeeva, Troy