November 01, 2001
USI’s Porter named GLVC Coach of the Year
Lenahan and Blinzinger named All-GLVC
University of Southern Indiana women’s tennis Head Coach Keely Porter was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Coach of the Year for the 2001 season. Porter directed USI to a second straight second-place finish in the GLVC with an 8-1 conference record this fall, 12-2 overall.
In the last two seasons, the Screaming Eagles have amassed a record of 29-6 overall, 16-2 in the GLVC. The only conference team to defeat the Eagles was Northern Kentucky University, which has won the GLVC the last three seasons.
Porter was joined in receiving post-season honors by two players, senior Michelle Lenahan (Vincennes, Indiana) and junior Emily Blinzinger (Oakland City, Indiana).
Blinzinger, who is 12-3 overall this year, continued the torrid pace of the last two seasons at number two singles. The junior, who is 33-6 overall the last year-and-a-half, advanced to the quarterfinals of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Mid-American Regional for the first time this fall.
Halfway through her junior season, Blinzinger also is rewriting the USI record book. She became the all-time leader in singles wins (45) and combined victories (82) and needs just four more wins to take over the all-time lead for doubles victories.
Lenahan battled through a rough fall, finishing 7-7 overall, but 5-3 in the GLVC. She is 26-15 the last two seasons after taking over the number one singles spot for the Eagles.
Blinzinger and Lenahan also have been a tough combination at number one doubles, blasting their way to a 12-4 overall record and an 8-1 finish in the GLVC. The last two seasons they are 28-10 overall, 15-2 in the league.
COACH OF THE YEAR: Keely Porter, Southern Indiana
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jamie O'Hara, Northern Kentucky
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Casie Skaggs, Missouri-St. Louis
ALL-GREAT LAKES VALLEY CONFERENCE TEAM
Jamie O'Hara, Northern Kentucky
Juliana Hite, Northern Kentucky
Michelle Lenahan, Southern Indiana
Elizabeth Brunsman, Northern Kentucky
Casie Skaggs, Missouri-St. Louis
Emily Blinzinger, Southern Indiana
Simmi Rani, Indianapolis
Leah Marsot, Quincy
Amber Stanley, SIU-Edwardsville
Laura Zeeb, SIU-Edwardsville
Liz Mendoza, Lewis
Lori Reinhard, Bellarmine
Ray Simmons, USI Sports Information
