The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Five Longhorns earn spots on Big 12 Women’s Tennis Award teams
04.28.2023 | Women's Tennis
Khirin claims Player and Freshman of the Year honors, and Pachkaleva tabbed Newcomer of the Year.
IRVING, Texas — The No. 9 University of Texas Women's Tennis team had a total of five players claim spots on the All-Big 12 Conference Awards teams, the league office announced Friday. Honorees were selected by the league's head coaches who were not allowed to vote for themselves or their own student-athletes.
Nicole Khirin was named the Big 12 Player of the Year, becoming the second-straight and seventh overall Longhorn to earn the prestigious accolade. Khirin joins a group of former UT winners that includes Peyton Stearns (2022), Bianca Turati (2018), Breaunna Addison (2014 and 2016), Janet Walker (2000), Sandy Sureephong (1997 and 1998) and Cristina Moros (1997, shared the award with Sureephong).
Khirin also garnered Big 12 Freshman of the Year accolades, becoming the ninth Longhorn to claim the honor. She joins a group of former Texas winners that includes Peyton Stearns (2021), Bianca Turati (2017), Breaunna Addison (2013), Lina Padegimaite (2012), Aeriel Ellis (2010), Vanja Corovic (2007), Petra Dizdar (2004) and Kendra Strohm (2003).
Khirin is just the third student-athlete in Big 12 Women's Tennis history to earn both Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors in the same season. She joins Zuzana Zemenova of Baylor (1995) and Petra Niedermayerova of K-State (2011) as the only athletes to accomplish the feat.
Junior Taisiya Pachkaleva was tabbed the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. She became just the third Longhorn in league history to earn the accolade and first since the 2007 season. Pachkaleva joins a group of former UT winners that includes Vanja Corovic (2007) and Vladka Uhlirova (2000).
Khirin and junior Charlotte Chavatipon were selected to the All-Big 12 singles first team, and sophomore Sabina Zeynalova was tabbed to the All-Big 12 singles second team. The duo of Chavatipon and Zeynalova were selected to the All-Big 12 doubles first team, and Khirin and Nicole Rivkin were named to the league's six-person All-Freshman team.
In addition, four Longhorns garnered recognition as the Big 12 individual champion in singles for having the most wins in league play at their respective spots. Khirin was named the Big 12 individual champion at No. 1 singles with a 7-2 mark in that position in conference play. Zeynalova claimed the Big 12 individual champion honors at No. 3 singles with a 5-1 record. Pachkaleva was named the Big 12 individual champion at No. 4 singles with a 5-2 mark, and Rivkin earned Big 12 individual champion accolades at No. 6 singles with a 6-2 record.
Khirin, No. 71 in the latest ITA national singles rankings, has registered a 13-5 dual-match singles mark this spring. She claimed Big 12 Championship Most Valuable Player recognition after posting a 3-0 mark at No. 1 singles during the tourney. Khirin tallied a 7-2 record at the No. 1 line in Big 12 play during the regular season.
Chavatipon has posted a 16-8 overall mark in singles play this year, including a 15-6 record in dual-match action, and is No. 95 in the latest ITA national singles rankings. She tallied a 6-2 mark in Big 12 play in the regular season. Chavatipon earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors on Jan. 24.
Zeynalova has registered a 16-6 overall mark in singles this season, including a 15-4 record in dual-match action, and is No. 113 in the latest ITA national singles rankings. She posted a 7-1 mark in Big 12 play during the regular season. Zeynalova garnered Big 12 Player of the Week accolades on March 28.
The duo of Chavatipon and Zeynalova have posted a 12-5 mark in dual-match play this spring and are currently No. 28 in the latest ITA national doubles rankings. The tandem posted a 5-3 record in Big 12 play during the regular season.
Pachkaleva has registered a 17-5 overall singles record this year, including a 15-5 mark in dual-match play. She tallied a 5-2 record in Big 12 play during the regular season.
Rivkin has posted a 17-6 overall singles record this season, including a 15-5 mark in dual-match action. She tallied a 7-2 mark in Big 12 play during the regular season. Rivkin provided the clinching point in UT's 4-2 win over No. 14 Oklahoma in the Big 12 Tournament championship match (April 23) with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory on court 5 over Julia Garcia Ruiz.
No. 9 Texas (21-4) will learn its draw in the upcoming 2023 NCAA Championship during the Division I selection show on Monday, May 1. The show will be streamed online at www.NCAA.com beginning at 5 p.m. Central.
2023 Big 12 Women's Tennis Award Winners (Texas Honorees Only)
Player of the Year: Nicole Khirin
Freshman of the Year: Nicole Khirin
Newcomer of the Year: Taisiya Pachkaleva
All-Big 12 First-Team Singles: Charlotte Chavatipon, Nicole Khirin
All-Big 12 First-Team Doubles: Charlotte Chavatipon/Sabina Zeynalova
All-Big 12 Second-Team Singles: Sabina Zeynalova
Big 12 All-Freshman Team: Nicole Khirin, Nicole Rivkin
Big 12 Individual Champion, No. 1 Singles: Nicole Khirin
Big 12 Individual Champion, No. 3 Singles: Sabina Zeynalova
Big 12 Individual Champion, No. 4 Singles: Taisiya Pachkaleva
Big 12 Individual Champion, No. 6 Singles: Nicole Rivkin
Players Mentioned
