<lf-dozen members of the Carleton College women’s tennis team earned a total of seven All-MIAC honors for the 2015 season. Junior Claire Spencer (Newport News, Va./Menchville) and first-year Danielle Vasiliev (Lincolnshire, Ill./Stevenson) earned the award for their singles performances, while Mikayla Becich (Jr./Bradfordwoods, Pa./North Allegheny), Alana Danieu (Fy./East Aurora, N.Y./East Aurora), and Grace Davis (Jr./Neenah, Wis./Neenah) were recognized for their doubles play. Sophomore standout Caitlin Shea (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Township West) was named to both the All-MIAC singles and doubles teams.
Spencer, who was a team-best 14-2 in singles matches this season, finished the year on a 10-match win streak. She went a perfect 9-0 in conference matches—which was tied with Shea for the highest winning percentage in the MIAC—as Spencer improved to 27-2 all-time in MIAC matches. This was her third consecutive all-conference award for singles play.
Despite being rookies, Vasiliev and Danieu contributed right away. Vasiliev accumulated an overall mark of 11-5 while playing much of the year at the No. 2 singles spot. Danieu posted winning records alongside each of her four playing partners this season, totaling a 12-4 overall ledger in doubles and a 7-2 mark in MIAC contests.
Davis and Becich secured All-MIAC recognition in doubles for the third straight season, while Becich had previously also picked up the award for singles in 2013 and 2014. Davis was half of five different doubles pairings this season, totaling a 13 wins. Meanwhile, Becich teamed up with four different doubles partners to total all nine of her wins at first doubles this year
Shea saw action in only two matches during 2014, but became a key part of the lineup in 2015. She went 12-2 overall in singles, including an 8-0 mark in conference matches. Playing alongside five different partners, she contributed to 10 total victories during doubles this season, including six during MIAC matches.
The six All-MIAC honorees tied for most among conference squads this season. With no seniors on this year’s roster, the Knights are poised to have a veteran squad return in 2016.
As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the conference also announced the annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for tennis. Members of the sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition. Davis represented Carleton on this squad.