UCI’s Smith women’s tennis Player of the Year in Big West Conference

UC Irvine senior Kristina Smith has been named Big West Conference Player of the Year in women’s tennis.

Smith, who was named first-team all-conference in singles and doubles, is UCI’s first Player of the Year since 2005. She has twice been named first-team All-Big West in singles.

Smith teams with junior Franziska Goettschling to earn her doubles recognition. Smith received honorable mention in all-conference doubles voting all three of her previous seasons.

In addition, Marivick Mamiit is a second-team honoree in singles, while Anteaters head man Mike Edles shares Coach of the Year recognition.

Edles was also coach of the year in 2000, 2002 and 2007. This year, he guided UCI to a 22-4 regular-season record, the conference regular-season crown, and the program’s third berth in the 64-team NCAA Tournament. The 22 wins are also a school record.

Goettschling (singles), Mamiit and freshman Sarah Stadfelt (doubles), as well as sophomore Ali Facey and junior Brooke Schweyer (doubles) also received honorable mention.

UCI plays San Jose State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on May 11 at USC.

— From staff reports