TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo Cassie Alcala has been named Mid-American Conference Women's Tennis Co-Player of the Year for the second-straight season, as the league announced postseason awards on Friday.

In addition, Head Coach Tracy Mauntler was named Coach of the Year, a first in her career. She is just the second coach in program history to earn the honor, following Barb Laurence in 1992. This is Mauntler's first Coach of the Year honor to go along with her program's first outright regular-season title in her 20 years at the helm. Her team has recorded a program-best 19 wins in the regular season and a perfect 10-0 showing in conference play, captured its first regular-season title and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.

Alcala, who was also named First-Team All-MAC for a third-straight season, was one of three Rockets to pick up postseason accolades from the MAC. Alcala was joined by senior Sloane Teske for first-team honors, while junior Shalini Tallamraju was named Second-Team All-MAC.

"To get three players on the All-MAC teams is such an accomplishment and a first for this program," Mauntler said. "Cassie and Sloane have been leading the way for the past three years and they are so deserving of the first team. They have set the standard for this program extremely high."

Alcala is the first Rocket to earn Player of the Year accolades in back-to-back seasons (she was outright MAC Player of the Year in 2022). Alcala has been a driving force in the Rockets' historic season. At the No.1 spot, Alcala has earned an 18-4 record, including an 8-2 showing in MAC play, and recorded a career-high 14-match win streak from April 9, 2022-Feb. 11, 2023. In doubles play, Alcala and Laura Morera have a 9-1 record from the No. 3 court and an unblemished 8-0 MAC record. The Pickerington, Ohio native has clinched match point five times this season, including the match vs, Buffalo on April 21 that secured Toledo's first-ever regular-season title. Alcala was named MAC Singles Player of the Week twice this season.

"Cassie is the most consistent practicer that I've ever coached," Muntler commented. "It is her focus and determination in practice that have helped her take her game to the next level. I'm so incredibly proud of Cassie and her relentless pursuit of excellence. She is so deserving of this prestigious award."

Teske is now a three-time All-MAC honoree, earning first-team honors in 2022 and second-team honors in 2021. The senior has a 17-5 overall and 8-2 record from the No. 2 court going into the conference tournament. Most recently, Teske was named MAC Singles Player of the Week for the third time this season and fifth of her career.

"Sloane just continues to improve every single season," Mauntler said. "She's become an elite tennis player who is an even better leader, and we are so lucky to have her as a Rocket."

Tallamraju's honor is a first for the Munster, Ind. native. She is currently on a career-high 11-match winning streak and leads the team with a 19-3, 10-0 MAC record, mostly from the No. 3 singles court. She also earned her first MAC Singles Player of the Week nod on April 20 after clinching match point vs. Western Michigan and defeating her Miami counterpart in back-to-back matches.

"I am so proud of Shalini for the improvements she's made over the past three years and for being a stable force we need," Mauntler added. "Her teammates know they are going to get 100% out of her every time she steps on the court."

The No. 1 seed Rockets will face No. 4 seed Miami in the first round of the 2023 MAC Tournament this Saturday at 10:00 a.m. in Muncie, Ind.

2023 MAC Women's Tennis Postseason Awards
Coach of the Year: Tracy Mauntler, Toledo
Co-Players of the Year: Cassie Alcala, Toledo, Mariya Polishchuk, Ball State
Freshman of the Year: Annika Planinsek, Ball State
Leann Grimes Davidge Sportsmanship Award: Mayu Ushio, Miami

All-MAC First Team
Mariya Polishchuk, Ball State
Daniella Shved, Eastern Michigan
Laura Rico, Miami
Cassie Alcala, Toledo
Sloane Teske, Toledo
Lindsey Zieglar, Western Michigan

All-MAC Second Team
Amy Kaplan, Ball State
Eloise Saraty, Bowling Green
Ambre Amat, Buffalo
Diana Lukyanova, Northern Illinois
Shalini Tallamraju, Toledo
Karin Hamilton, Western Michigan