MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State Tennis had three players named to All-Ohio Valley Conference teams on Thursday evening.
Junior Ritchie Kruunenberg was named First-Team All-OVC and junior Gabriel Ruiz was elected to the second team for men's tennis. For the women, senior
Ayaka Terashi was picked for the second team.
"All three of these kids are very deserving of these awards," said head coach
Kevin Fulton. "I know that our regular season didn't finish up quite the way we wanted, but I feel like our best tennis, especially for both of these guys, is coming up this weekend."
Kruunenberg played No. 1 for men's tennis, leading to a 5-4 OVC mark and 7-8 overall. He picked up a notable win against Michigan State's Mac Roy on Feb 6. In doubles play, he paired up with Ruiz to go undefeated in the conference play at 6-0 and finished the season at 9-2 on the year. This is the second time in Kruunenberg's career he has been named to the first team, the first being a year ago as a sophomore.
"Ritchie wants to be a top player in our conference," said Fulton. "He's had a few nagging injuries this year, but I think he's finally starting to get close to hundred percent. He's about to show everyone what he's capable of in the tournament."
Ruiz went 5-4 in the conference and 7-9 overall as the No. 2 for men's tennis. He started OVC play with a four-match win streak, his longest streak of the season. Ruiz was named OVC Player of the Week once and, with Kruunenberg, held the highest number of doubles wins in the OVC with six.
"Gabriel has worked very hard to get to this point with his play," said Fulton. "I'm so proud of the work he has put in on and off the court. His best tennis is still ahead of him."
Terashi played as the No. 1, finishing her season at 5-5 in the OVC and 7-12 overall. Her season in singles play was capped off by a victory at Louisville against Elle Stokes, and the match marked the only time she played as the No. 2 spot. She found success midway through the season in doubles play, teaming up with freshman
Zina Mehikic. The tandem went 4-1 in the OVC and 4-4 overall.
"Aya has been an absolute joy to coach these last two years," said Fulton. "I think she wanted her career to end a little differently than it did, but all the hard work she has put in since arriving on campus really paid off this spring. I'm really going to miss her next year."
The women's season wrapped up on April 16, finishing 3-17 overall and 3-7 in the OVC.
The men's season will continue on Friday at 11 a.m. ET as the No. 5 seed in the OVC Tournament. The Eagles will take on No. 4 Jacksonville State. In their prior meeting, the Gamecocks hosted and came away with the 5-2 victory over the Eagles.
