MAC Rewards Women's Tennis For Championship Run

CLEVELAND - - Ball State women's tennis was heavily rewarded for its run to the 2021 Mid-American Conference Championship, with four members of the program honored by the league Wednesday (May 19) with postseason awards.

The awards started at the top, with eighth-year head coach Max Norris being named the 2021 MAC Coach of the Year. In addition, sophomore Emma Peeler was tabbed to the All-MAC First Team, while sophomore Jessica Braun and freshman Mariya Polishchuk both received All-MAC Second Team accolades.

"I am very proud of Emma, Jessica and Mariya, and appreciate that the other MAC coaches thought that highly of them too," Norris said. "The league was very tight and balanced this year. There are a lot of good competitors and players in the MAC, so it's a great accomplishment for all of us. The awards are also a testament to how hard all our student-athletes trained all year and the support they gave each other. They truly created a positive environment where development and a team mentality were important. We are excited to build on this!"

Norris picked up MAC Coach of the Year honors for the second time in his career (2016 & 2021) after leading the Cardinals to the program's third MAC regular season championship (2016, 2017 and 2021) in the past five conference seasons, with all three coming under his tenure. The Cardinals finished the year with a 22-4 overall record, including a 13-1 ledger in league play. The special season featured a 22-match winning streak, along with the program's second ever berth into the NCAA Tournament, with both under Norris' tutelage.

Peeler, who saw action mainly on the top court for the Cardinals in both singles and doubles, played a vital role in Ball State's success this spring. A two-time MAC Singles Player of the Week honoree in 2021, Peeler earned 11 dual wins on the top court, including six in league play. Five of those MAC wins came over fellow All-MAC honorees. Peller was even more dominating in doubles, helping earn 14 total victories, including seven in MAC action.

Braun finished the year with a 14-9 record in singles play for Ball State, splitting time at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. Seven of those wins came in MAC play, including three over fellow All-MAC selections. In doubles, Braun led the Cardinals with 16 overall wins, including two at No. 1, nine at No. 2 and five at No. 3.

Polishchuk tied for the overall team lead with 15 dual wins on the year, including a 9-2 record at the No. 3 position. She also earned one win each at No. 1 and No. 4 singles, while claiming four victories at No. 2. In MAC play, Polishchuk boasted a team-best 10 league wins. She was just as solid in doubles play, earning a 7-5 overall record, including a perfect 4-0 mark in MAC play. She combined with Braun at No. 3 doubles for the final four matches of the regular season, with the pair going a perfect 4-0.

The Cardinals ended their 2021 campaign with an impressive showing at the NCAA Tournament against one of the nation's elite programs on May 7, falling to Vanderbilt in the first round at the AUER Tennis Courts on the Ohio State University campus.

FIRST TEAM:
Emma Peeler, Ball State
Pia Schwarz, Buffalo
Brindtha Ramasamy, Miami
Laura Rico, Miami
Cassie Alcala, Toledo
Lindsey Zieglar, Western Michigan

SECOND TEAM:
Jessica Braun, Ball State
Mariya Polishchuk, Ball State
Marharita-Sophia Tavpash, Bowling Green
Maria Potsi, Northern Illinois
Sloane Teske, Toledo
Femke TjonAJoe, Western Michigan

COACH OF THE YEAR: Max Norris, Ball State
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Laura Rico, Miami
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Cassie Alcala, Toledo
LEANN GRIMES DAVIDGE SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Hsin-Yuan Shih, Buffalo

Players Mentioned

Jessica Braun

Emma Peeler

Mariya Polishchuk

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