Thursday, 05/03/2012

MALIBU, Calif. – Five members of the Pepperdine women’s tennis team were recognized as All-West Coast Conference selections, as announced by the league office today. Lorraine Guillermo was tabbed the Freshman of the Year, becoming the sixth Wave in program history to earn the prestigious award.

Guillermo (Walnut, Calif./Rowland HS) was voted the WCC Freshman of the Year in a vote of the conference’s nine head coaches, and additionally made the second team in singles and first team in doubles. The freshman is 14-7 in singles this dual season, and leads the team with an overall record of 23-10.

On the doubles court, she and fellow first team honoree Khunpak Issara (Bangkok, Thailand/Bangkok Patana School) have been a force, going 19-3 since January. That dual season record currently ranks tied for fifth for the most wins by any Pepperdine team in a single season.

With a conference-best ranking of #31, the pair clinched the WCC’s automatic bid and is heading to the NCAA Doubles Championship in Athens, Ga. beginning on May 23.

Issara made the All-WCC first team roster after making the second team last season. She took over the top spot in the lineup midway through the season, and has gone 9-4 from the position. The junior is 15-8 in overall in dual action, and is currently ranked #60 in the ITA singles poll. She was named an alternate for the NCAA Singles Championship earlier today.

Ale Granillo (Pachuca, Mexico/Instituto Hidalgo) was dubbed a second team selection in singles. She shared time with Issara at No. 1, before settling into the No. 2 spot in the lineup. The sophomore has been in the ITA singles rankings nearly all season, and went 8-1 against league opponents this year.

Rounding out the All-WCC singles teams were Ali Walters (Newport Beach, Calif./Creekside Christian HS/UCLA) and Arianna Colffer (Corona, Calif./Buena Vista), who garnered an honorable mention. Walters went a 15-6 this dual season, while Colffer boasts 16 overall wins since last fall.

Together, Walters and Colffer were also named to the honorable mention squad in doubles. The duo has held down the No. 2 spot with 10 victories.

After placing second at the WCC Tournament, the Waves continue the postseason next weekend, May 11-12, when they travel up to Berkeley, Calif. to face Purdue in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

2012 All-West Coast Conference Team and Award Winners
WCC Player of the Year: Katie Le, Santa Clara
WCC Freshman of the Year: Lorraine Guillermo, Pepperdine
WCC Coach of the Year: Sherri Stephens, San Diego

All-WCC First Team Singles
Anna Depenau, San Diego
Catherine Isip, Saint Mary's
Jenny Jullien, Saint Mary's
Juliette Coupez, San Diego
Katie Le, Santa Clara
Khunpak Issara, Pepperdine

All-WCC Second Team Singles
Ale Granillo, Pepperdine
Anna Chkhikvishvili, Saint Mary's
April Bisharat, Loyola Marymount
Desiree Tran, BYU
Lorraine Guillermo, Pepperdine
Tory Parravi, Loyola Marymount

Honorable Mention: Ali Walters, PEP; Arianna Colffer, PEP; Julia Wartenburger, USF; Kacie Wagner, SCU; Kristina Zauere, GON; Laura Claus, USD; Megan Price, BYU; Meghan Sheehan-Dizon, BYU; Morgan Anderson, BYU; Nastya Polyakova, POR; Valeska Hoath, POR

All-WCC First Team Doubles
Anna Depenau/Maja Sujica, San Diego
Khunpak Issara/Lorraine Guillermo, Pepperdine
Jessica Agra/Katie Le, Santa Clara

All-WCC Second Team Doubles
Anna Chkhikvishvili/Catherine Isip, Saint Mary's
Jade Frampton/Jenny Jullien, Saint Mary's
Juliette Coupez/Laura Claus, San Diego

Honorable Mention: Ali Walters/Arianna Colffer; PEP, April Bisharat/Claudia Razzeto, LMU; Ashley Anderson/Tory Parravi, LMU; Katie Edwards/Kristina Zauere, GON; Megan Price/Meghan Sheehan-Dizon, BYU

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