Tech Tennis Announces 2016-17 Postseason Team Awards

HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech men's and women's tennis programs along with Head Coach Kevin Kalinec recently announced the 2016-17 team award winners. For the women, Kwang Suthijindawong was named the Most Valuable Player while Mario Neto was the Most Valuable Player for the men's team.

Suthijindawong, a senior from Bangkok, Thailand, finished the season with an 11-4 singles record and was 11-5 in doubles play. She closed the season with eight wins in her last 10 singles contests and tied the Tech school record for most career singles wins with 66. In addition, she was named to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference 1st Team.

Neto, a sophomore from Santos, Brazil, anchored the Huskies in the No. 1 spot in the lineup in both singles and doubles competition. Neto, who hails from Santos, Brazil, led Tech in wins after facing some of the toughest competition in not only the GLIAC but also NCAA Division II. Neto was also an All-GLIAC Honorable Mention selection. Neto, a civil engineering major, is one of four sophomores on this year's roster helping build the foundation for the Huskies.

Natalia Parra Alvarez was picked as the Most Improved Player on the women's team at the conclusion of the season. Alvarez, a junior from Bogota, Colombia, picked up eight wins in singles contests and added four more victories in doubles competition. Alvarez will be a key member and leader for the Huskies for the upcoming 2017-18 season.

Illiya Chibirev, a junior from Calgary, Alberta, earned both the Most Improved Player and Scholastic Achievement awards for the men's team. Chibirev combined to win four contests and continued to make strides throughout the course of the year against some of the toughest opponents in the nation. In the classroom, he carries a 3.79 GPA and majors in physics and mathematics here at Tech.

Sandra Cvetanovic, a junior from Johannesburg, South Africa, was the Scholastic Achievement Award winner for the Tech women. Cvetanovic had eight wins in singles and 11 victories in doubles competition this past season. She owns a 3.93 GPA and is majoring in electrical engineering at Michigan Tech.

The Huskies have now turned their attention to getting ready for the 2017-18 season which will open this coming fall.