Big South Feature: Women's Tennis Begins League Play
By Brian Mull
Big South Correspondent
Winthrop won the Big South Conference tournament championship in women’s tennis again in 2019, continuing a trend of dominance that began in 1994 under coach Cid Carvalho.
The Eagles won 20 outright or shared regular season titles plus another 21 tournament titles in that span, posting a 63-5 record in tournament matches. No other current Big South member has a winning record in the conference’s postseason.
Carvalho retired after last season and Winthrop’s ace and four-time Big South Player of the Year Lauren Proctor graduated, opening the door, perhaps, for other contenders for the crown in the 2020 campaign.
Vivian Segnini, a former Winthrop assistant, replaced her old boss, coming from VCU where she spent last year as a graduate assistant. Formerly the No. 1 professional in Brazil, she understands the expectations surrounding Winthrop women’s tennis and hopes to continue the program’s rich tradition.
“He put so much energy into the Winthrop tennis program and had so much passion for it and I feel the same way,” Segnini said. “I can’t really control if we’re going to win at the end or I will win as much as he did. But I just want to do my best toward that so in the end, I can look back and say I gave everything I had for this program.”
The Eagles won more than 400 matches under Carvalho during his 32 seasons at the helm, winning more than 63 percent of all matches. Winthrop has a 183-35 (.851) all-time record in Big South conference regular season tilts.
Proctor reached unprecedented heights in the rankings during her four seasons in Rock Hill, climbing into the top 20 in the national singles and doubles. She and partner Megan Kauffman reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships in 2018 and the Eagles became the first Big South member to win a match in the national tournament, defeating Auburn in the opening round that year.
Alisa Soloveva, a senior, is the Eagles captain after posting a 19-1 singles record last year.
“She works really hard, I think she can achieve great things also,” Segnini said.
Winthrop added four freshmen to the roster this year.
“I’m looking forward to seeing their improvement throughout the season,” Segnini said. “They are doing very well.”
Names to Know
Singles
Lize Alet Morkel, UNC Asheville - two-time Big South Player of the Week already this season when the South African became the first Bulldog to be named Freshman of the Year, recording a 16-2 record at No. 1 singles.
Alisa Soloveva, Winthrop - one of 16 players in conference history to be three-time All-Conference in singles and doubles (nine have been voted four-time in singles and doubles all-time), 5-7 senior from Russia went 19-1 at No. 2 singles.
Madalina Man, Charleston Southern - In-state product was an All-Conference selection each of her first two years, recorded a 7-2 mark in conference singles in 2019.
Anastasia Belyaeva, Radford - In her second season with the Highlanders after transferring from UT Rio Grande Valley. She was 4-4 at No. 1 singles in conference matches to earn First-Team All-Big South honors.
Rafaela Santos, Winthrop - Perfect in nine Big South matches at the No. 4 slot to earn First-Team All-Conference in 2019. The junior from Brazil was 14-6 overall last year.
Ana Castillo, Campbell - Venezuelan junior split time between No. 1 & No. 2 singles for the Camels last season, recording a 10-14 overall record.
Beth Taylor, Presbyterian - Claimed 14 of her team-high 15 singles victories in straight sets to lead the Blue Hose and earn Second-Team All-Conference.
Lou Regen, Campbell - The Swedish senior posted a 7-3 mark at No. 1 singles for the Camels in 2019 to earn All-Conference honors for the second consecutive year.
Doubles
Ana Castillo & Lou Regen, Campbell - Earned First-Team All-Conference in doubles last year and poised to be one of the Big South’s top tandems again this season.
Lize Alet Morkel & Taylor Love, UNC Asheville - 7-4 record in doubles a year ago to earn first-team All Conference.
Rafaela Santos & Alisa Soloveva, Winthrop - Posted a 7-7 record in doubles action last season.
2019 Big South Standings
Winthrop 9-0
Presbyterian 7-2
Gardner-Webb 6-3
Campbell 6-3
Charleston Southern 5-4
Radford 5-4
UNC Asheville 3-6
USC Upstate 2-7
Longwood 2-7
Hampton 0-9