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Elita Silins Named ECC Women's Tennis Co-Rookie of the Year, As Four Spartans Receive All-Conference Honors

Elita Silins Named ECC Women's Tennis Co-Rookie of the Year, As Four Spartans Receive All-Conference Honors
Posted: Nov 03, 2021

St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Tennis player Elita Silins was named the ECC Co-Rookie of the Year, while Karina Blas and Samanta Villegas-Robles, Paula Palero and the aformentioned Silins were named ECC All-Conference selections on Wednesday, as the league revealed its annual awards, voted on by the conference's coaches. 

Elita Silins (Fr./Northampton, England) was named the ECC's Co-Rookie of the year (with Valentina Brienza of UDC) and a Second Team All-Conference selection. Silins posted a record of 17-3 in matches during the fall, going 9-3 in doubles action and 8-0 in singles play. She was recognized by the ECC for her outstanding play during the season with three consecutive ECC Rookie of the Week awards on October 12, 18 & 25. 

Karina Blas (Sr./Tarnow, Poland) took home a First Team All-Conference selection in recogition of her play this season. Blas went 14-12 in matches during this fall, going 6-8 in doubles action and 8-4 in singles competition.

Samanta Villegas Robles (Jr./Leon, Mexico) earned First Team All-Conference honors following her outstanding campaign, where she compiled a record of 17-6 (9-3 Doubles and 8-3 Singles). Villegas Robles was recognized for her work on the court during the season with an ECC Player of the Week award on October 12. 

Paula Palero (Jr.Cullera, Spain) received Second Team All-Conference honors for her terrific first year as a Spartan, following her transfer from Concordia College (N.Y.) this past summer. Palero racked up a 9-3 record in maroon and gold, going 6-1 in doubles play and 3-2 in singles action.

 

2021 ECC Women’s Tennis All-Conference
 First Team
 Sofia Bellucco, Dist. Columbia
Karina Blas, St. Thomas Aquinas
Mariona Franco Martin, Dist. Columbia
Maja Makal, Queens
Simone Parn, Dist. Columbia
Samanta Villegas Robles, St. Thomas Aquinas

Second Team
Paula Palero, St. Thomas Aquinas
Gabriela Sciarrotta, Queens
Elita Silins, St. Thomas Aquinas
Joanna Skrzypczynska, Dist. Columbia
Christina Stasiuk, Daemen
Nathalie Ulander, Queens  

Player of the Year: Maja Makal, Queens
Co-Rookie of the Year: Valentina Brienza, Dist. Columbia
Co-Rookie of the Year: Elita Silins, St. Thomas Aquinas
Coach of the Year: T. Richard "Dickie" Mahaffey, III, Dist. Columbia