TicketsCINCINNATI - Kelly Poggensee-Wei (Lake Villa, Ill./Grayslake North) and Lauren Bellinger (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Jerome) of the University of Cincinnati women's tennis team were named to the All-Conference team as announced by the American Athletic Conference Thursday afternoon.
The award marks the second for Poggensee-Wei after earning the same distinction following the 2015 season and sitting out the 2016 season due to injury. The senior posted a 16-5 dual singles record and a 17-5 dual doubles mark. In singles action, Poggensee-Wei played at No. 2 all season, posting a 3-1 mark in conference matches. The senior finished the season on an eight-match winning streak and was named the team's Most Valuable Player. She also earned American Player of the Week on Feb. 14 following a 4-0 record during the week that included a come-from-behind, three-set win over Ball State.
Bellinger earns the all-conference honor for the first time in her career following a senior season that included an 11-7 dual singles mark and a 17-5 dual doubles mark. Bellinger played every single dual match this season at the No. 1 spot for both singles and doubles. She posted a 2-1 mark in conference singles play and a 3-1 mark in conference doubles action with partner Poggensee-Wei. She put together two different four-match win streaks during the year, including one to finish out the season. Bellinger was tabbed 19th in the initial ITA regional rankings and was named American Player of the Week on April 11 after helping UC to a 2-0 week that included a win over crosstown rival Xavier.
// COACH TOTH ON THE AWARDS
"I am so pleased that Lauren and Kelly have received the recognition that they so much deserve," noted head coach Eric Toth. "They both had tremendous senior years and have led this program in so many ways over the last several seasons. This is such high praise for these two. The American is loaded with so much quality across the 11 teams. To end their careers as all-conference performers in one of the best tennis conferences in college is quite a way to go out."
// 2016-17 SEASON RECAP
During the 2016-17 campaign the Bearcats put together a 17-7 overall record, setting a new school-record for the most spring wins in a season, topping the 2009 total of 16. UC went undefeated during the regular season in the month of April and rolled off 10-straight wins from March 24 to April 19. Cincinnati put together an 11-1 record against Ohio Valley Regional opponents and was 5-0 against teams in the state of Ohio.