Kaluder named to 1st Team All-SEC team

Lady Razorback sophomore Ela Kaluder was named to the 2007 All Southeastern Conference first team by the conference office on Tuesday, April 17.

Kaluder, who currently ranks 36th in the nation, has played at the top slot in singles all season for the University of Arkansas women’s tennis team on her way to tallying a 26-12 record in the 2006-07 season.

The Zagreb, Croatia, native has defeated four ranked players at the top spot this season. Kaluder captured the biggest win of her Lady’Back career came over 7th-ranked Natalie Frazier of Georgia on March 2 in a 6-4, 6-4 victory.

In SEC play this season, Kaluder is 6-5 in singles. At first, this may not seem all-SEC worthy, however four of Kaluder’s five conference losses have been from top 25 athletes, namely 2nd-ranked Megan Falcon of LSU.

Kaluder went on a 17-2 run that spanned the fall and spring seasons. The streak began with four straight wins at the ITA Central Regional Championships in late October and carried through early March as she won 10 straight matches to open the 2007 spring season.

She is the first Lady’Back to be named to the All-SEC team since head coach Michael Hegarty was hired prior to the 2004 season.

“The team and staff are extremely proud of Ela’s recognition as a 1st-team all-SEC member,” said Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty. “I hope this is the first of a long line of meaningful achievements that she attains. She is an incredible talent.”

In doubles, Kaluder is 18-12 this season with partners sophomore Aurelija Miseviciute and junior Audrey Bordeleau.

Kaluder and the rest of the Lady’Back tennis team return to action this Thursday, April 19, in the SEC Tournament opening round against Auburn at 1:00 p.m.

For more information on Arkansas tennis or any other Lady Razorback sport, please visit LADYBACKS.com.

2007 All-SEC Teams:

First Team Ela Kaluder, ARKFani Chifchieva, AUNatalie Frazier, UGMegan Falcon, LSUAmanda Fish, VUMonika Dancevic, UGAmanda Taylor, VUGira Schofield, USCDiana Srebrovic, UFNina Suvak, UFYvette Hyndman, UGCatherine Newman, VUBlakeley Griffith, UT

Second TeamIlona Somers, UMJoelle Schwenk, UKAlex Haney, AUAnastasia Revzina, UFMegan Alexander, UFAna Zubori, USCNatasha Vuckovic, USCCsilla Borsanyi, UFSarah Woestmann, UKTaka Bertrand, VUDarya Ivanov, UGMartina Banikova, MSU